A group of governors, including Governor Jim Pillen, has written a letter to President Joe Biden opposing his administration’s commitment to two international agreements that would enhance the World Health Organization’s authority during public health emergencies. The proposed changes would modify the WHO’s existing International Health Regulations and introduce a new “Pandemic Agreement” Treaty.
In their letter, the governors expressed concerns that the proposed amendments and treaty would give the WHO Director-General unilateral power to declare public health emergencies in member nations. This power could extend beyond pandemics to a range of perceived emergencies, potentially diminishing the role of governors as state health officials and eroding sovereignty by allowing the WHO to dictate responses to declared emergencies, potentially including mandates on medical treatments.
Governor Pillen was joined in his opposition by governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina
