Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced Tuesday that the state is joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network.
“I refuse to sit by as Donald Trump undermines science and weakens our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats,” Pritzker stated in a release. “By withdrawing from the World Health Organization, Donald Trump has undermined science and weakened our nation’s ability to detect and respond to global health threats. I refuse to sit idly by and let that happen.”
Pritzker added, “By joining the World Health Organization’s coordinated network, GOARN, we are ensuring that our public health leaders – and the public – have the information, expertise, and partnerships they need to protect the people of our state. Across our state and alongside valued partners around the world, Illinois will continue to put science, preparedness, and people first.”
The announcement follows the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously announced the U.S. formal exit, stating, “We are reclaiming our independence, protecting American sovereignty, and putting U.S. public health policy back in the hands of the American people.”
Pritzker is among Democratic governors who launched the Governors’ Public Health Alliance last October to counter the Trump administration’s public health policies. California was the first state to join the WHO’s global disease monitoring network, with Governor Gavin Newsom stating, “California will not bear witness to the chaos this decision will bring.” Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton added, “Just as Illinois continues to follow a scientifically supported vaccine schedule, we will continue to rely on evidence, data, and medical expertise to guide our decisions.”
In October 2025, Pritzker joined the Governors’ Public Health Alliance—a coalition of 15 governors committed to countering the Trump administration’s dismantling of public health infrastructure. Following the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, the alliance announced a new coordinated effort with Boston University’s Center on Emerging Infectious Diseases to leverage the Biothreats Emergence, Analysis, and Communications Network for disease tracking.
Illinois will also continue convening its Global Health Advisory Committee and has signed legislation empowering the Illinois Department of Public Health to issue vaccine guidance through the Immunization Advisory Committee. These actions reflect Illinois’ commitment to prioritizing people and science over political interference.
