15 States Announce Governors Public Health Alliance to Enhance Collaboration

On October 15, 2025, a coalition of 15 U.S. governors announced the formation of the Governors Public Health Alliance (GPHA), a nonpartisan initiative aimed at enhancing public health coordination and emergency preparedness across state lines. The alliance includes governors from California, New York, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Guam, among others. Its primary objectives are to serve as a collaborative hub for sharing data, best practices, and policy guidance on issues such as vaccine policy, emergency response, and health security. This initiative responds to perceived inadequacies in federal public health leadership and aims to ensure that public health decisions are driven by science rather than politics. The alliance is supported by GovAct, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting governors in protecting fundamental freedoms, including public health.

The GPHA's formation comes amid concerns over the politicization of public health decisions at the federal level. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey stated, "While Donald Trump and RFK Jr. turn their backs on public health, Governors are stepping up to make sure our residents have the health care they need and deserve." Similarly, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the need for state-level action, saying, "When the federal government abandons science for conspiracy theories, slashes Medicaid, and undermines vaccine integrity, states must stand united to defend the facts."

The alliance is guided by a bipartisan advisory board of former governors and public health experts, including Dr. Mandy Cohen, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and former North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services. Dr. Cohen highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating, "With many health threats at our doorstep, collaboration and communication between Governors is essential to protect the health of families and save lives."

The GPHA builds on existing regional coordination efforts, such as the West Coast Health Alliance, which was formed by the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington to develop independent vaccine guidelines amid concerns over federal public health policies. By expanding this model to a broader coalition, the GPHA aims to strengthen emergency preparedness, improve communication, share data and expertise, and ensure rapid and consistent responses to emerging health threats.

The formation of the GPHA underscores the increasing fragmentation of the public health system in the United States. Under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., federal health agencies have faced budget reductions and policy shifts that have prompted states to take more independent action on public health. Colorado Governor Jared Polis noted, "With regular uncertainty and less resources from Washington D.C... ."

While the alliance is described as nonpartisan, the initial members are all Democratic governors. This composition has raised questions about the alliance's bipartisan nature and its potential impact on national public health coordination. Some medical experts have expressed concern that the formation of regional health coalitions could exacerbate the politicization of public health. However, former CDC Director Tom Frieden argued that states have little choice, stating, "Really, what's the alternative? You've got a CDC that has been hijacked by people who are obscuring or denying facts, and you have life-and-death decisions that have to be made."

The GPHA is supported by GovAct, a nonprofit, nonpartisan initiative that assists governors in protecting fundamental freedoms, including public health. GovAct serves as a centralized platform for collaboration, incubating, launching, and supporting alliances across governors' offices. The organization operates alliances to distribute and assist in policy development among governors and state executives.

The formation of the Governors Public Health Alliance marks a significant step in state-level collaboration to address public health challenges, emphasizing the importance of science-driven policies and coordinated emergency preparedness. As the alliance begins its work, it remains to be seen how it will navigate the complexities of public health coordination in a politically divided landscape.