Greg Abbott Vows to Defy Joe Biden Again

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to defy any World Health Organization (WHO) "pandemic agreement" that is signed by President Joe Biden on behalf of the United States, saying it would contravene American and Texan sovereignty.

In March, a number of world leaders called for a new "pandemic accord" under the constitution of the WHO, which they argued will help prevent a repeat of the pandemic. However, the proposal has proved highly controversial, with some conservatives arguing it would dilute national sovereignty and could threaten free expression.

Abbott has already pledged to ignore instructions from the Biden administration on a number of subjects, causing a surge in tensions between Texan and federal authorities. In January, he said Texas National Guard troops and law enforcement would continue placing razor-wire along the state's border with Mexico, despite the Supreme Court ruling federal agents could cut it down. Earlier this month, he instructed Texan universities to disregard a Biden administration edit to Title IX, which bans discrimination based on gender, to include transgender students.

On Wednesday, in a post on X, Abbott wrote: "I reject the World Health Organization's proposed 'Pandemic Agreement' with the United States. It undermines the sovereignty of the United States & the State of Texas. Texas will NOT comply."

Abbott also shared an article from news website My Hometown Today that listed 24 Republican governors who signed an open letter in opposition to a new WHO pandemic accord, which they said would "undermine national sovereignty."

The signatories, including Abbott, said such an accord could create "a global surveillance infrastructure" and would "seek to elevate the WHO from an advisory body to a global authority in public health."

They added: "Proposals could erode state sovereignty by granting the WHO's Director-General the authority to dictate responses to a declared PHEIC (public health emergency of international concern), stripping elected representatives of their role in setting public health policies and compelling citizens to comply with WHO directives, potentially including mandates regarding medical treatments."

A WHO spokesperson told Newsweek the organization doesn't comment on what individuals say about its work, "but it's important to note that this initiative was launched by, is being led by and will be decided by WHO's member states."

Newsweek contacted Abbott's office for comment outside normal working hours on Thursday.

The group of global leaders in March argued that a new "Pandemic Act" would "safeguard our collective future," and said they hoped it could be approved at the WHO's annual general assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, between May 27 and June 1.

In a joint statement they said: "Only a strong global pact on pandemics can protect future generations from a repeat of the COVID-19 crisis, which led to millions of deaths and caused widespread social and economic devastation, owing not least to insufficient international collaboration."

Many people oppose such a move. During an appearance on Tucker Carlson's online show, author Bret Weinstein suggested it could end the U.S. First Amendment, though this claim was described as "false" by fact-checking website PolitiFact.

In a press release published on May 10, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said progress had been made towards an agreement.

"During more than two years of intensive negotiations, WHO's Member States have shown unwavering commitment to forging a generational agreement to protect the world from a repeat of the horrors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. "I welcome the determination that all countries have shown to continue their work and fulfill the mission on which they embarked."

Update 5/23/24 at 8:16 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with comment from a World Health Organization spokesperson.