US Rejects WHO Pandemic Power Expansion Citing Sovereignty Risks

In July 2025, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio jointly rejected key amendments to the World Health Organization's International Health Regulations, citing concerns over national sovereignty and the potential for unaccountable global health mandates. The rejected treaty would have granted the WHO authority to impose lockdowns, travel restrictions, vaccine passports, and digital health IDs based on vague criteria, potentially bypassing Congress and infringing on Americans' civil liberties. Kennedy and Rubio warned that the amendments risked enabling international censorship, propaganda, and political influence, particularly referencing the WHO's experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasized that America can engage in global health cooperation without surrendering constitutional rights or allowing an unelected international body to dictate national health policies. Republican lawmakers also praised the rejection, highlighting the importance of Senate approval for any such treaty. The U.S. stance represents a continuation of its cautious approach to WHO powers following President Trump's earlier withdrawal from the organization.