President Trump Signs Memorandum Withdrawing US from 66 International Organizations

President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-UN groups. The move aims to cease US participation in and funding for these bodies, which the administration describes as operating contrary to American national interests, security, economic prosperity, and sovereignty.

The memorandum orders all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to end involvement as soon as possible. Key organizations affected include the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), widely regarded as the foundational treaty for global climate negotiations and the parent agreement to the 2015 Paris climate deal. Other prominent UN entities on the list are UN Women, which focuses on gender equality and women's empowerment; the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), supporting family planning and maternal health in over 150 countries; the UN Conference on Trade and Development; the UN Register of Conventional Arms; and the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

Additional bodies mentioned in related announcements encompass the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UN Water, UN Oceans, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Solar Alliance, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Tropical Timber Organization, and others spanning environmental, trade, cultural, and developmental areas.

The administration explained that these organizations promote radical climate policies, global governance structures, and ideological programs that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength. It emphasized reallocating American taxpayer dollars to priorities that better support national missions, noting many of these entities as redundant, mismanaged, wasteful, or captured by agendas opposed to US interests.

This action follows a comprehensive review of all international intergovernmental organizations, conventions, and treaties, initiated by an earlier executive order. It aligns with ongoing efforts during President Trump's second term to reduce US engagement with multilateral institutions. Over the past year, the administration has slashed voluntary funding to most UN agencies, ended participation in the UN Human Rights Council, extended a funding halt for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), withdrawn from the UN cultural agency UNESCO, and announced intentions to exit the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement. The US also skipped the annual UN climate summit last year for the first time in three decades and previously cut funding to UNFPA.

Environmental advocates expressed concern over the UNFCCC withdrawal, noting the US would become the only country to leave the treaty, which includes every other nation as a member. This step could diminish US influence in shaping global climate, gender equality, health, and economic policies while complicating future re-engagement in related agreements.

The decision underscores a continued emphasis on prioritizing unilateral American interests over broad international cooperation in areas viewed as inefficient or ideologically misaligned.