U.S. Rejects WHO Pandemic Rule Changes, Citing Sovereignty Concerns

On Friday, July 18th, the United States officially rejected proposed changes to the World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic response regulations. The Trump administration cited concerns that the alterations infringed upon national sovereignty.

This rejection followed the initiation of the process to withdraw the U.S. from the UN health organization, a move that began months earlier. Even with the planned withdrawal, the State Department noted that certain language within the reforms, adopted the previous year, would have remained legally binding on the United States.

In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy expressed their concerns. They stated that the proposed amendments could potentially lead to "unwarranted interference" with the nation's sovereign right to determine its own health policies.

The officials emphasized their commitment to prioritizing American interests. They declared that the U.S. would not accept international policies that could potentially limit Americans' freedom of speech, privacy, or personal liberties.