The Trump administration is set to pull out from numerous international organizations, including the UN’s population agency and the UN treaty that established international climate negotiations, in a move signaling a further retreat from global cooperation. President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions as part of a broader review of U.S. participation and funding for international bodies, including those linked to the United Nations. The majority of the entities affected are UN-related bodies focusing on climate, labor, and other areas deemed by the administration as aligned with diversity and “woke” initiatives. Additionally, non-UN organizations such as the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum are also on the list for withdrawal.
According to a statement from the State Department, the Trump administration views these institutions as redundant, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, captured by self-serving interests contrary to U.S. objectives, or posing a threat to national sovereignty, freedoms, and prosperity. This decision to disengage from organizations promoting international cooperation on global challenges follows the administration’s military actions and threats, causing concerns among allies and adversaries, including recent events involving Venezuela and Greenland.
Previously, the administration had halted support for agencies like the World Health Organization, UNRWA (UN agency for Palestinian refugees), the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO. The approach has been to selectively fund operations and agencies that align with the administration’s priorities while divesting from those deemed contrary to U.S. interests. This strategy marks a departure from past administrations’ handling of UN matters and has prompted the UN to implement staffing and program cuts in response.
Despite the significant shift, U.S. officials express a commitment to leveraging the UN to enhance American influence in specific initiatives where there is competition with countries like China. The latest move to withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change underscores the administration’s stance on distancing the U.S. from global climate initiatives. This decision, along with the country’s withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, has drawn criticism from climate advocates and experts who emphasize the importance of global collaboration in addressing climate change.
Experts warn that the U.S. withdrawal could impede global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, potentially delaying actions by other nations. Meaningful progress on climate change, they argue, hinges on U.S. participation due to its significant carbon footprint and economic influence. The decision to also withdraw from the UN’s population agency, accused of engaging in controversial practices, aligns with the administration’s broader disengagement from international bodies perceived as conflicting with U.S. values.
The State Department has indicated that further reviews of U.S. involvement in international organizations are ongoing.
