Donald Trump, the President of the United States, has said the country will withdraw from 66 United Nations and international organisations, including forums focused on climate change, peace, and democracy.
In a presidential memorandum released by the White House, Trump said the move followed a review of “organizations, conventions, and treaties that are contrary to the interests of the United States.” He added that the United States will cease participation and end all funding to the affected entities.
The White House shared a list of 35 non-UN organisations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The IPCC, however, is a UN body that brings together scientists to assess climate change evidence and provide periodic reports to inform policymakers.
The announcement also includes withdrawal from 31 UN entities, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on maternal and child health.
Several UN bodies targeted by the decision also work on protecting vulnerable groups from violence during wars.
Trump has previously acted to influence international decision-making while claiming he seeks less US involvement in UN forums.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the United States has veto power over measures it opposes and has used it to block efforts to end Israel’s genocide on Gaza before mediating a ceasefire last year.
Since the start of his second term in January 2025, Trump has withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Paris climate agreement, and the UN Human Rights Council.
These withdrawals were also made during his first administration and later reversed by former President Joe Biden. The US exit from the WHO will take effect on January 22, 2026, one year after the order.
The Trump administration has maintained a US funding ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that began under Biden.