The United States is preparing to withdraw from dozens of international organizations, including several bodies affiliated with the United Nations. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday authorizing the country’s withdrawal from 66 international organizations, according to the international news agency Associated Press (AP).
The decision is widely seen as a sign that the United States is further distancing itself from multilateral cooperation. According to the White House, Trump has ordered the suspension of U.S. support for 66 international institutions, agencies, and commissions.
The administration had earlier conducted a comprehensive review of U.S. participation and financial contributions to all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations.
Most of the organizations listed are linked to the United Nations and work on issues such as climate change, labor rights, and migration. The Trump administration concluded that many of these institutions focus on agendas and priorities that do not align with U.S. national interests, AP reported.
UN and Non-UN Organizations Affected by the Decision
Several organizations outside the UN system are also affected by the decision, including the Atlantic Cooperation Partnership, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and an international counterterrorism forum.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the targeted organizations suffer from overlapping mandates, poor governance, inefficiency, high operational costs, weak management, and self-serving agendas. He accused them of posing risks to U.S. sovereignty, freedom, and prosperity.
The Trump administration had previously withdrawn support from the World Health Organization, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO.
The administration has now adopted an “à la carte” funding approach, under which the United States will contribute only to selected UN bodies it considers aligned with its interests. Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, described the move as reflecting a unilateral U.S. approach to multilateralism.
He said the decision signals that international cooperation will proceed only on Washington’s terms. Forti noted that many affected organizations had relied heavily on U.S. financial contributions, and the withdrawals have forced the United Nations to reduce staff and scale back programs.
Climate, Population, and Strategic Implications
Under the latest decision, the United States will also withdraw from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Adopted in 1992, the convention provides a foundation for supporting developing countries in addressing climate change. The Paris Climate Agreement was later developed under this framework. Trump had previously withdrawn the United States from the Paris Agreement, describing climate change as a “hoax.”
Former White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy criticized the decision as shortsighted and damaging, warning that it would deprive the United States of major economic opportunities and weaken its ability to prevent climate-related disasters.
Scientists say climate change is contributing to rising incidents of floods, droughts, wildfires, extreme rainfall, and severe heat. Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson warned that the U.S. withdrawal could also slow climate action by other countries.
The United States will also withdraw from the UNFPA, which works globally on sexual and reproductive health.
The Republican Party has long accused the agency of involvement in forced abortions. Trump halted funding for UNFPA during his first term, which was later restored under President Joe Biden. However, a U.S. State Department review concluded that the allegations were not substantiated.
In addition, the United States will exit the Carbon Free Energy Compact, the UN University, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Pan-American Institute of Geography and History, the International Federation of Arts Councils, and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
Despite the broad withdrawals, Trump administration officials said the United States is not abandoning the United Nations entirely. Instead, Washington plans to focus on strengthening its influence in telecommunications, maritime, and labor-related bodies where strategic competition with China is a priority.
