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CDC Ordered to End All Work With World Health Organization

The move comes as a surprise, because the Trump’s order merely began the process of leaving WHO.

Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been ordered to stop working with the World Heath Organization immediately, following President Donald Trump’s executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the global health body. The order also instructed federal health agencies to stop most communications with the public through at least the end of the month. A CDC official sent a memo to the agency’s senior leaders telling them to stop collaborating with WHO and to “await further guidance.” The move comes as a surprise, because the executive order merely began the process of leaving WHO. Disaffiliating from the health agency requires congressional approval, a year’s notice and for the U.S. to continue to pay the agency through the end of the fiscal year. The CDC memo says the new policy applies to “all CDC staff engaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other means—in person or virtual.” CDC officials are also no longer allowed in WHO buildings.