The Trump administration announced on Friday that the United States rejects the amendments adopted in 2024 by World Health Organisation (WHO) member countries to combat pandemics, stating that they violate American sovereignty.
In 2024, WHO member countries adopted amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), a legally binding framework to address public health emergencies that had proven inadequate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Donald Trump, immediately upon returning to power in January, decided to withdraw the United States from this UN agency. However, according to the State Department, these amendments remain binding for the country.
Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr, known for his vaccine-sceptical views, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a joint statement that “these amendments risk unduly hindering our sovereign right to shape our health policy.” The statement added, “We will prioritise American citizens in all our actions and will not tolerate any international policy that infringes upon Americans’ freedom of speech, privacy, or individual liberties.”
The amendments introduce the concept of “pandemic emergency” and aim to promote “greater solidarity and equity,” according to the WHO. These changes were adopted after the organisation failed last year to reach a more ambitious global agreement in the fight against pandemics. Such an agreement was eventually concluded in 2025, but without the participation of the United States.
“We regret the decision of the United States to reject the amendments,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement published on the platform X. He emphasised that the amendments are “clear on the sovereignty of member states,” adding that the WHO cannot impose lockdowns or similar measures.
