The Trump administration has formally rejected U.S. participation in proposed amendments to the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (IHR), citing threats to American sovereignty and individual freedoms.
The proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations open the door to the kind of narrative management, propaganda, and censorship that we saw during the COVID pandemic. The United States can cooperate with other nations without jeopardizing our civil liberties,… pic.twitter.com/k9IWRavu9D
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) July 18, 2025
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the decision, warning that the amendments would give the WHO sweeping powers during global health emergencies.
“Nations who accept the new regulations are signing over their power… to an unelected, international organization,” Kennedy said. “That could mean lockdowns, travel restrictions, or worse — without national consent.”
Today the U.S. rejected the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations, delivering on the Trump Administration’s promise to fight for Americans in the international system. @StateDept and @HHSGov are working together to ensure our national sovereign right to make…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 18, 2025
The amendments were part of a broader WHO push to centralize pandemic response authority. U.S. officials argue the move undermines domestic control and constitutional rights.
The move is aligned with President Donald Trump’s long-standing skepticism of international institutions and follows his broader agenda to “reclaim American sovereignty” in the wake of COVID-era restrictions.
