The United States Department of State and Department of Health and Human Services released a joint statement on June 8, 2026 reaffirming America’s commitment to protecting public health through sound science, transparency, and rigorous independent review. The statement emphasizes that while international organizations can play a constructive role in advancing scientific discussion, their conclusions should not automatically be treated as definitive in the United States.
It also addresses concerns raised by scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders regarding the consistency, transparency, and real-world applicability of certain international cancer hazard assessments by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The statement notes that broad classifications based on limited or theoretical risks can create unnecessary public confusion, undermine confidence in everyday products and industries, and lead to policy outcomes disconnected from actual exposure and modern scientific standards.
According to the statement, IARC findings and monographs often blur the line between hazard and true risk while diminishing independently verified findings of other research institutions. The document further notes that IARC research provides diminishing returns on scientific enterprise while advancing politicized narratives often cited for U.S. domestic legal contexts. The statement cites red meat classifications as an example of oversimplifying complex scientific discourse that does little to inform sound public health policy beneficial to the American people.
The statement advocates for an America First approach to public health that ensures decisions affecting U.S. workers, families, farmers, and businesses are guided by transparent, evidence-based processes reflecting America’s interests and scientific standards rather than organizations whose findings may not fully align with U.S. law, policy, or scientific review practices.
The Trump Administration expressed commitment to improving the health and safety of the American people through rigorous, independent scientific expertise. The statement asserts that American regulatory decisions should be made by American institutions accountable to the American people, noting that U.S. agencies possess some of the world’s strongest scientific expertise and are best positioned to evaluate health and safety risks using comprehensive evidence, practical exposure data, and balanced risk assessment methods.
The statement concludes by affirming that the United States will continue to support credible science while prioritizing policies that are practical, balanced, and rooted in accountability to the American people.
