Trump Administration Rejects UN Pandemic Preparedness Declaration
The Trump administration declined to support a nonbinding UN declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response at a September 25 meeting during the General Assembly’s 81st session in New York.
Mandated by resolution 79/333, the meeting reviewed progress on a pandemic preparedness declaration adopted in 2023. Its theme called for a multilateral approach guided by “equity and solidarity.”
According to Health Policy Watch, the U.S. representative said the United States could not support the new text because of “divisive ideologies that lack definitional consensus” and references to unfinished negotiations on pathogen access and benefit sharing.
The U.S. statement said the country remained ready to work with partners to strengthen preparedness and “stop dangerous outbreaks at their source.”
The proposed pathogen access and benefit sharing arrangement would have countries share virus samples in exchange for access to tests, medicines and vaccines. It remains under negotiation as a follow-up to the WHO Pandemic Agreement, which WHO member states adopted in 2025. The United States did not take part in finalizing that agreement.
The U.S. position at the UN follows actions the Trump administration has taken regarding the WHO since January 2025. On January 20, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14155, beginning the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO. The order cited the WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” failure to adopt reforms, and inability to remain independent of political influence from member states.
It also said the WHO demanded payments from the United States far out of proportion to those of other countries. WHO figures show the United States contributed $1.284 billion in the 2022–2023 budget period, more than any other donor. According to the Congressional Research Service, the United States was assessed 22 percent of the WHO’s core budget for 2020–2021, compared with 12 percent for China.
Section 4 of Trump’s executive order directed the Secretary of State to end U.S. negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations. The order also stated that actions taken to implement either would not be binding on the United States.