Nearly half of all US governors urge drastic change for global health organization before new pandemic hits

SUMMARY

Nearly half of U.S. governors, mostly Republicans, urged President Biden to reject proposals granting the World Health Organization (WHO) increased authority over public health emergencies. In a letter, 24 governors claimed that the proposed amendments and a new "Pandemic Agreement" treaty would unconstitutionally elevate the WHO from an advisory body to a global authority. They argued this would allow the WHO's Director-General to unilaterally declare public health emergencies in member nations and raised concerns about global surveillance and censorship. The governors committed to resisting any transfer of authority over state public policies to the WHO.