Staff Reports
Republican governors, attorneys general, and lawmakers are teaming up to prevent the World Health Organization (WHO) from gaining additional control over health decisions in the United States. They are concerned about potential changes to WHO agreements that could allow the organization to interfere in American healthcare.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken legal action to oppose these changes, arguing that decisions about health should be made at the state level, not by international organizations like the WHO. Paxton and other conservative leaders believe that the Biden administration should not agree to any alterations that would give the WHO more authority over public health policies.
Governors, lawmakers and AGs team up to stop WHO from seizing more power over U.S. health decisions https://t.co/uzJfhrLw8b
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) May 28, 2024
The WHO is aiming to establish a unified policy to respond more efficiently to global health emergencies, such as pandemics, in the future. However, some of the proposed changes, like the “pathogen access and benefits system,” have raised concerns among Republican officials. They fear that such measures could infringe on national sovereignty and undermine individual states’ autonomy.
In a joint effort, 49 Republican Senators and governors from two dozen states have voiced their opposition to the WHO’s proposed modifications. They have urged President Biden not to support any agreements that would expand the organization’s power over public health matters. Republican lawmakers argue that the WHO should focus on advisory roles rather than becoming a global regulator of public health.
Conservatives criticize the WHO and other public health institutions for their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that these organizations need reform. They believe that granting the WHO more authority could lead to further violations of civil liberties during emergencies. Republican leaders are committed to protecting states’ rights and ensuring that decisions impacting American healthcare remain within national borders.
