California, Oregon, Washington Governors Form Health Alliance Against Trump/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Democratic governors of Washington, Oregon, and California announced a new health alliance to coordinate vaccine and public health policies. The move comes amid concerns that the Trump administration is politicizing the CDC and undermining science-based guidance. Federal officials dismissed the alliance, accusing the states of eroding public trust during the COVID era.
West Coast Health Alliance Quick Looks
- Governors Bob Ferguson (WA), Tina Kotek (OR), and Gavin Newsom (CA) launched joint health initiative.
- States say the CDC has become a “political tool” under Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Concerns rise as CDC faces budget cuts, leadership resignations, and restructuring.
- Alliance will align immunization plans based on recommendations from respected national medical groups.
- WA Health Secretary Dennis Worsham: Public health is about prevention, not politics.
- Echoes 2020 pandemic alliances where states pooled resources and coordinated reopenings.
- California health officer Erica Pan: dismantling CDC puts lives at risk.
- HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon accuses states of past “failed pandemic policies” like lockdowns and mask mandates.
- Administration insists U.S. immunization guidance remains based on “Gold Standard Science.”
- Move reflects growing state-federal divide over health governance.
California, Oregon, Washington Governors Form Health Alliance Against Trump
Deep Look
SEATTLE — In a show of regional unity, the governors of Washington, Oregon, and California announced Wednesday the formation of a new West Coast health alliance to protect science-based health policy in the face of what they describe as the Trump administration’s politicization of federal health agencies.
Alliance Formed Amid Rising Concerns
Governors Bob Ferguson, Tina Kotek, and Gavin Newsom said the initiative will coordinate public health guidelines, particularly on immunizations, in response to restructuring at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They pointed to budget cuts, leadership resignations, and efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to advance policies undermining vaccine confidence.
In a joint statement, the governors warned that the CDC had been turned into a “political tool that peddles ideology instead of science.”
California State Health Officer Erica Pan added: “The dismantling of public health and dismissal of experienced health leaders, along with the lack of using science, data, and evidence, are placing lives at risk.”
Science Over Politics
Washington Health Secretary Dennis Worsham emphasized that public health depends on prevention: “Preventing illness, preventing the spread of disease, and preventing early, avoidable deaths.”
The alliance will develop immunization policies grounded in recommendations from independent national medical organizations, ensuring West Coast residents have consistent guidance even if federal messaging shifts.
Historical Precedent
This is not the first time Democratic-led states have formed regional health coalitions. During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, governors joined forces to buy masks, respirators, and protective gear and to synchronize reopening strategies. The new initiative follows that model but focuses squarely on safeguarding vaccine policy and broader health governance.
Federal Pushback
The Department of Health and Human Services dismissed the alliance, framing it as partisan overreach.
Spokesman Andrew G. Nixon said: “Democrat-run states that pushed unscientific school lockdowns, toddler mask mandates, and draconian vaccine passports during the COVID era completely eroded the American people’s trust in public health agencies.”
Nixon insisted that the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices remains the country’s guiding scientific authority and pledged that national policy will continue to rest on “rigorous evidence and Gold Standard Science.”
A Broader Federal-State Rift
The move reflects a widening divide between state leaders and the federal government on public health. In 2020, governors in the Northeast and West Coast announced similar coalitions just hours after then-President Trump claimed authority to decide when states could reopen during pandemic lockdowns.
Now, with Trump back in the White House and Kennedy Jr. at HHS, the West Coast leaders say their alliance is essential to shield residents from politically motivated decisions that could undermine vaccination campaigns and emergency response.
Conclusion
As COVID-19 cases rise again and trust in public health institutions remains fragile, the West Coast alliance signals both a practical and symbolic stand for science-driven governance. Whether it bolsters public confidence or fuels further partisan clashes remains to be seen.
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