U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations and bodies, marking one of the broadest retreats from multilateral engagement in recent history. The move follows a comprehensive review ordered by the administration of all international entities in which the United States participates or provides funding, including both United Nations-affiliated and non-UN groups.
According to the White House, the affected organizations are seen as operating “contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty,” with the administration arguing that many promote globalist agendas that conflict with American priorities. As a result, executive departments and agencies have been instructed to cease participation and funding “to the extent permitted by law.”
The list includes 31 UN entities and 35 non-UN bodies, covering a wide range of areas such as climate cooperation, labor, migration, governance, and advisory panels. High-profile pullouts include the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – the key treaty underlying global climate negotiations – and agencies focused on gender equality, development, and other global initiatives.
Administration officials framed the decision as part of Trump’s broader “America First” agenda, intended to reduce what they view as wasteful spending and restore U.S. sovereignty by redirecting resources toward domestic goals and bilateral partnerships. Critics, however, warn that the withdrawal could weaken international cooperation, diminish U.S. influence on global policy, and undermine efforts to address transnational challenges.
The withdrawal builds on earlier decisions by the Trump administration to leave other major bodies, reflecting a sustained shift away from traditional multilateral diplomacy and toward more selective engagement with international institutions.
