U.S. Scolds Pan-Am Health Group Over Gender

By Diana L. Banister | 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 9 (C-Fam) – The U.S. delegation to the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) annual meeting in Washington last week aggressively opposed PAHO’s relationship with three organizations that advance radical gender ideology, abortion, and issues that are “contrary to U.S. policy and interests.”

The U.S. warned the PAHO to refrain from veering into a “divisive political and social agenda” and ideological issues by allowing “official relations” with the Clean Air Institute, the World Association of Sexual Health, and UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health.

“The World Association of Sexual Health (WAS) advances ‘gender’ ideology and ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights,’ an umbrella term that includes rights or obligations related to abortion,” stated Bethany Kozma, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Director of Global Affairs, who was leading the U.S. Delegation at the meeting.

“In addition, this organization [WAS] promotes interventions, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone regimens and surgical alterations for minors, which constitute chemical and surgical mutilation that permanently sterilize youth before they reach developmental maturity.”

Political tensions escalated following Kozma’s statement as other countries jumped in to complain about a number of Trump Administration policies and its “anti-globalism” positions. A Cuban delegate attacked the U.S. for its oil blockade. PAHO Regional Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa highlighted the annual budget and admitted to the organization’s financial problems, blaming the U.S., its largest funder, whose membership dues have not been paid since 2024. According to Barbosa, the U.S. owes the Pan American body $134 million.

Within days of taking office, President Trump cut funding for a number of global organizations and withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization with Executive Order 14155. He has also called for the withdrawal of the U.S. from the PAHO, conveying his intention to cut all funds to the organization by 2027.

Created in 1902 in the aftermath of the yellow fever epidemic that spread from Uruguay and Brazil to the U.S., the Pan American Health Organization’s mission has been for countries in the Americas to collaborate on ways to improve the health and well-being of their populations and prevent the spread of diseases.

In his speech to the General Assembly on September 22, President Trump blasted the U.N. and its delegations for blaming the U.S. or criticizing its policies, including slashing its U.N. and global health budgets.

Trump also said that it is “unacceptable” for the U.N.’s top human rights officials to spend their time criticizing the United States for “protecting our children from transgender mutilation and transgender insanity…”

Kozma is the Trump Administration official leading the effort to implement and expand the principles of the Geneva Consensus Declaration, expounding on its principles in her statement to the PAHO: “The United States has demonstrated its commitment to women’s health, the protection of life at all stages and the defense of the family as the fundamental unit of society. The United States cannot endorse PAHO working with a non-state actor that promotes gender ideology and advocates for abortion.”

Organizations at the United Nations and the Clean Air Institute are “exaggerating climate change into the world’s greatest threat,” said Kozma. UNITE supports sustainability efforts that infringe on state sovereignty as a form of “global governance.”

The U.S. demanded changes to one section of the Executive Committee report that used the term “gender” rather than accurately using the word “sex.” The delegation withheld support for the report in its current form.

The General Committee report recommended the continuation of relationships with the Clean Air Institute and UNITE, but was unable to reach consensus on the renewal of relations with the World Association for Sexual Health and was referred back to the Executive Committee.

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