President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from 66 international organizations, conventions, and treaties, arguing that they are contrary to the Interests of the United States of America.
The White House shared the update on January 7, 2026, stating that the signed memorandum directs all U.S. executive departments and agencies to cease participation in and funding for these entities.
Trump’s Reason for Withdrawal
The withdrawal includes 35 non-United Nations organizations and 31 United Nations-linked bodies that Washington says are contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.
The White House fact sheet emphasizes that the review of international participation ordered by Executive Order 14199 found many of these groups to be redundant, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, or promoting agendas misaligned with U.S. priorities.
“Consistent with Executive Order 14199 and pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawal of the United States from the organizations listed in section 2 of this memorandum as soon as possible. For United Nations entities, withdrawal means ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law,” read part C of the memorandum.
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Organizations Withdrawn From the US
Among the non-UN groups cited in the memorandum are several climate, science, and governance forums.
- International Energy Forum.
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International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies.
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International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
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International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law.
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Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).
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Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF).
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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
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International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
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On the UN side, U.S. withdrawal affects a wide range of commissions and agencies, including:
- Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
- UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – Economic Commission for Africa.
- ECOSOC – Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
- ECOSOC – Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
- ECOSOC – Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.
- International Law Commission.
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
- International Trade Centre.
- Office of the Special Adviser on Africa.
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children in Armed Conflict.
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict.
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children.
- Peacebuilding Commission.
- Peacebuilding Fund.
- Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
- UN Alliance of Civilizations.
- UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD).
- UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
- UN Energy.
- UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
- UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
- UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
- UN Oceans.
- UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
- UN Register of Conventional Arms (UNROCA).
- UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
- UN System Staff College (UNSSC).
- UN Water (UN-Water).
- UN University (UNU).
The move has drawn criticism from climate scientists, foreign policy experts, human rights advocates, and several allied nations.
Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, has argued that Trump’s decision to withdraw from the UNFCCC is an “unforced error” and “self-defeating,” as it will now be hard for the US to compete with China.
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