Chicago – May 25, 2026
U.S. scientists working on infectious‑disease threats are being shut out of key international virus‑response meetings under President Donald Trump’s administration, according to internal documents and multiple current and former officials. Health experts say new travel restrictions, political review layers, and the United States’ formal withdrawal from the World Health Organization have effectively sidelined American researchers from WHO‑sponsored committees and technical working groups that coordinate global pandemic planning.
Internal communications reveal that federal scientists in agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now require high‑level political approval to attend or speak at global health gatherings, delaying or canceling their participation in real‑time outbreak discussions. Public‑health leaders warn that excluding experienced U.S. researchers weakens early detection and containment efforts, especially as new pathogens emerge in an era of heightened global travel and trade.
