Public health officials and experts were braced for challenges. The scale of the new administration's moves in the first few days, however, has shocked them.

This action follows an executive order signed by President Trump on his first day in office to withdraw the United States from the WHO.

Meanwhile, in an executive order, Trump created his long-discussed “Department of Government Efficiency,” to be led by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. On paper, the department is tasked with modernizing federal technology and software; however, Trump and Musk have spent months boasting about how it will gut the federal government.

U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately.

US experts said the sudden pause came as a surprise and would set back efforts to contain health threats abroad. View on euronews

A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, John Nkengasong, sent a memo to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night telling them that all staff who work with the WHO must immediately stop their collaborations and “await further guidance.