CDC ordered to stop working with WHO immediately, upending expectations of an extended withdrawal

SUMMARY
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been instructed to immediately stop all collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO) following President Trump's executive order to withdraw the U.S. from WHO. The directive, issued by CDC official John Nkengasong, affects all CDC staff involved in technical working groups, advisory boards, cooperative agreements, and other forms of collaboration, including in-person meetings. According to Nkengasong’s memo, CDC staff are also prohibited from visiting WHO offices. This order comes just days after President Trump signed the executive order to initiate the U.S. withdrawal process from WHO, a move that requires Congressional approval and a one-year notice. By freezing collaborations with WHO, the Trump administration signals a hardline stance on reducing reliance on global institutions and asserts that the U.S. will determine its health policy independently, without being bound by external obligations.