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U.S. Notifies WHO of Rejection of 2024 IHR Amendments and Informs UNESCO of Withdrawal
Summary
At a State Department briefing, spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States formally rejected the 2024 International Health Regulations amendments and informed UNESCO that it will withdraw, citing concerns about international bodies' mandates and alignment with U.S. policy.
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said Friday that the United States has formally notified the World Health Organization that it rejects the 2024 amendments to the International Health Regulations and informed UNESCO’s director-general of the U.S. decision to withdraw from that organization. "The 2024 IHR amendments broadened the WHO's mandate to include not only public health emergencies of international concern, but also 'events or conditions that may have the potential to become emergencies,'" Bruce said, adding that the United States opposed what she described as an expansion of international authority over U.S. public-health policy.
Bruce said the administration, in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services, "reiterated our clear warning" on the IHR amendments and that the rejection “reaffirms our position that U.S. health, U.S. public health policy will be shaped by Americans for Americans.” She also said the U.S. informed UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay of the decision to withdraw, saying "continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," and citing concerns about the organization’s focus on sustainable development goals and a recent UNESCO decision to admit the "State of Palestine" as a member state.
The spokesperson linked both actions to a broader review of U.S. participation in international organizations ordered by President Trump, and framed the moves as part of a policy to align international engagement with the administration’s priorities. Bruce said these steps are a result of that review and reflect a desire for "smarter, more strategic involvement" in international bodies.
The announcement at the briefing did not specify implementation steps or effective dates for the withdrawal from UNESCO, nor did it describe the legal process the United States will follow to leave the organization. Bruce also did not provide details about whether the IHR amendments will be subject to domestic legal review or further interagency consultation beyond the coordination she cited with HHS.
Why it matters: The IHR set global rules for reporting and responding to public‑health threats; changes to the U.S. relationship with WHO or UNESCO could affect international cooperation on health and cultural programs. At the press briefing, Bruce framed the moves as restoring domestic control over public‑health policy and aligning international engagement with the administration’s stated priorities.
Discussion vs. decision: Bruce presented these items as formal notifications already delivered (decision/announcement). The briefing did not include legislative or treaty‑level details, nor did officials at the briefing describe subsequent administrative steps or timelines for withdrawal from UNESCO.
