Douglas V. Gibbs ——Bio and Archives--February 6, 2026

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The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency and intergovernmental body of the United Nations which can issue guidance and declare international health emergencies, but has no enforcement power. The U.S. withdrawal in January of 2026 marked the first time a major founding member has withdrawn from the organization.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the State of California will remain a part of the World Health Organization’s network. He made the announcement after meeting with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 23, 2026. California is the only U.S. state to join the WHO-coordinated network, and has been widely interpreted as a direct counter to President Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from WHO. Politico and other outlets states Newsom used Davos as an opportunity to position California as a global health actor independent of federal policy.

Newsom’s action violated Article I, Section 10 of the United States Constitution which prohibits states from any........

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