US President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum ordering the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations that, according to the administration, no longer serve American interests. This was reported by the White House press service.
The document obliges all executive departments and agencies to cease participation in and funding of 35 non-UN organizations, as well as 31 entities under the auspices of the United Nations. The full list of organizations has not been published, but according to media reports, it includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and other entities related to climate, migration, culture, and economic development.
This decision was the result of a review initiated by Trump’s February 2025 executive order, which instructed the State Department to assess all US international commitments. The White House emphasized that many of these organizations promote “radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological agendas” that are contrary to US sovereignty and economic interests. The withdrawal will save US taxpayers money and allow resources to be focused on “America First” priorities.
Earlier, the Trump administration had already withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Paris Climate Agreement, and the UN Human Rights Council, and banned funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
The international reaction was mixed. Critics, including climate experts and environmental organizations, called the move a “strategic mistake” that isolates the US from global cooperation and could hamper the fight against climate change. At the same time, Trump’s supporters welcomed the decision as a defense of national sovereignty.
The withdrawal process will take time, depending on the organizations’ charters, but the administration intends to act as quickly as possible.