More than a dozen Democratic governors have come together to form a new health alliance aimed at countering the Trump administration’s health policies. This group, called the Governors’ Public Health Association, was established last week and intends to provide medical guidance that may conflict with the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The alliance plans to offer recommendations on vaccines and public health measures, while also collaborating with like-minded states to share medical data and statistics. Although it is being promoted as a non-partisan initiative grounded in science, all participating governors are Democrats. The states involved include California, Illinois, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Guam.
Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), criticized the Democratic governors for their handling of public health during the pandemic, specifically mentioning school closures and mask mandates. He argued that these actions eroded public trust in health guidance, not the Trump administration. Nixon stated that former President Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are working to rebuild that trust by relying on solid scientific evidence.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who supports the new alliance, emphasized that public health should not be politicized. He accused Trump and Kennedy of turning the CDC into a source of misinformation. California Governor Gavin Newsom echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of prioritizing science over politics. Newsom also criticized what he described as “extremists” attempting to misuse the CDC.
The Governors’ Public Health Association is primarily funded by a nonprofit called the Governors Action Alliance, or GovAct. While GovAct claims to be nonpartisan, it has a history of supporting Democratic initiatives, including efforts to expand Medicaid and promote abortion and voting rights. The organization has invested significant resources into various initiatives, including the “Reproductive Freedom Alliance,” which aims to expand access to abortion.
The new health alliance may face challenges. States typically need to follow federal health guidelines to receive federal funding. Additionally, health insurance companies often base their coverage on federal standards, which could create confusion if states adopt different rules. Disagreements over health guidance could also lead to legal disputes, especially regarding ongoing FDA reviews of controversial medications like the abortion pill mifepristone.
As this new alliance takes shape, it remains to be seen how it will impact public health policy and the relationship between state and federal health authorities.
