US Health Secretary RFK Jr Calls WHO Moribund Urges Others to Quit

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) as 'moribund' and 'bloated' in a video address to the agency's annual assembly in Geneva, urging other nations to join the US in withdrawing from the organization. Kennedy argued that the WHO is hindered by bureaucracy, conflicts of interest, and power politics, and advocated for the creation of new, more efficient global health institutions. His remarks followed the US announcement—originally made at the start of Donald Trump’s presidency—to withdraw funding, which left the WHO facing a significant budget shortfall. The address received little immediate response from the assembled diplomats and ministers, many of whom watched in silence. Kennedy, known for his skepticism towards vaccines and previous clashes with US lawmakers, suggested that recent WHO reforms and pandemic preparedness agreements would perpetuate the organization's dysfunctions. Trump had previously accused the WHO of mishandling COVID-19 and being too close to China, charges the agency denies.