US blocks UN pandemic preparedness declaration, drawing criticism from health experts

On September 25, 2026, the United States blocked the adoption of a major United Nations political declaration on pandemic preparedness, drawing sharp criticism from global health experts. The Trump administration objected to references to equity, reproductive healthcare, and vaccine-sharing negotiations, while the European Union opposed provisions that threatened intellectual property protections. This diplomatic gridlock occurred despite an active, deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

United States opposition to the declaration

• ▪Dr. Erica Schwartz, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stated that the United States could not support the United Nations declaration due to unresolved issues, including divisive ideologies and references to ongoing World Health Organization negotiations.
• ▪The Trump administration objected to mentions of equity, universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the United Nations pandemic declaration.
• ▪The United States government blocked the adoption of a major United Nations political declaration on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response on September 25, 2026.

Status and contents of the declaration

• ▪The draft United Nations declaration calls for scaling up global pandemic preparedness, enhancing financing, boosting laboratory capacity, improving medication and vaccine access, and countering vaccine hesitancy.
• ▪The United Nations political declaration on pandemic preparedness is a non-legally binding, largely ceremonial document that requires consensus among member states for adoption.
• ▪The United Nations General Assembly plans to revisit and potentially adopt the pandemic preparedness declaration at a future meeting using a majority vote rather than consensus.

Criticism of the blocked declaration

• ▪Helen Clark, co-chair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, expressed disappointment that United Nations member states failed to endorse the negotiated political declaration on September 25, 2026.
• ▪Professor Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University stated that the United States decision to dissent severely weakens the global political commitment to preventing and responding to dangerous outbreaks.

European objections to the declaration

• ▪The European Union and Germany expressed concerns that the United Nations pandemic declaration failed to sufficiently address financing accountability, efficiency, and disease prevention.
• ▪The European Union rejected parts of the United Nations pandemic declaration due to explicit red lines regarding intellectual property protections, asserting that technology transfers must remain voluntary and mutually agreed upon.

World Health Organization agreements

• ▪The United States withdrew from the World Health Organization shortly after President Trump took office, which impacted its participation in finalizing international pandemic agreements.
• ▪A separate World Health Organization-led pandemic agreement is on hold while countries negotiate pathogen access and benefit-sharing terms.

Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo

• ▪G20+ leaders pledged $2.9 billion to combat the expanding Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the virus infiltrated the Bulu and Dunghu health zones.
• ▪An active outbreak of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo has spread to 63 health zones across seven provinces, resulting in nearly 7,900 cases and 3,800 deaths.

Debatable claims

• ▪The United States was justified in blocking the UN pandemic preparedness declaration
• ▪Including social policy issues in global pandemic agreements hinders international cooperation on health crises
• ▪Non-binding UN political declarations are ineffective at improving global pandemic preparedness
• ▪Technology transfers for pandemic vaccines and treatments must remain strictly voluntary