A Connecticut view on the future of public health under the Trump administration

By Tess Terrible,

Published January 28, 2025 at 7:00 AM EST

Robert Hradil

Getty Images

The logo of the WHO is seen on panel in front of the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 23, 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he will seek to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO, claiming the U.S. pays disproportionately too much into the institution. The WHO, which is a part of the United Nations and has 194 member states, is the world's biggest intergovernmental organization tasked with public health. It plays an especially crucial role in coordinating and implementing responses to outbreaks of epidemic diseases.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), and has started putting restrictions on the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani joins us to talk about the impact these changes might have on public health locally.

We’ll also hear from Dr. Albert Ko, Professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, and member of research and development task forces at the WHO.

GUESTS:

Manisha Juthani: Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner
Dr. Albert Ko: A physician and Epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health and a a member of the WHO R&D Taskforce for Zika Virus and R&D Blueprint Working Group
Sujata Srinivasan: Senior Health Reporter for Connecticut Public

Where We Live is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.