US Rejects WHO Health Regulation Amendments

The United States, under President Donald Trump, has officially rejected recent amendments to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR), citing concerns about national sovereignty and personal freedoms.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that the changes, approved at last year’s World Health Assembly, could “interfere with America’s right to set its own health policies.”

In a joint statement, they said, “We will always put Americans first and will not accept international rules that compromise free speech, privacy, or individual rights.” They also accused WHO of being politically influenced, especially by China, during global health crises.

President Trump began the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the WHO as soon as he took office on January 20, but the State Department said the IHR changes would have remained binding unless formally rejected.

The amendments aimed to strengthen global cooperation during pandemics, ensure fair resource distribution, and create an expert body to assist developing nations. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed disappointment, stressing that the changes respect national sovereignty and that WHO cannot impose measures like lockdowns.

The decision reverses the Biden administration’s support for the reforms, which had called them “a step forward for global health security.” Conservative and vaccine-skeptic groups welcomed the U.S. move.

While most countries supported the amendments, the U.S. remains one of the few major nations to reject them. WHO has reaffirmed its neutrality and commitment to work with all countries despite this decision.