By Keerthi Ramesh
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that the United States will withdraw from 66 international organizations and treaties, including 31 associated with United Nations, marking this decision as one of the most sweeping changes in the U.S. foreign policy in decades.
Trump signed a presidential memorandum directing executive agencies to cease participation and funding for a wide range of U.N. and non-U.N. bodies that his administration says are “contrary to the interests of the United States.” The decision follows a year-long review of U.S. involvement in international organizations that the White House claimed no longer serve American national interests, sovereignty or economic prosperity.
The memorandum covers entities focused on climate change, development, peacebuilding, gender equality, human rights and other global issues. Among the organizations affected are the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, the intergovernmental climate science panel IPCC, and groups addressing gender equity, migration and democracy.
Administration officials defended the action as a necessary step to protect American taxpayers and promote national sovereignty. “These withdrawals will end U.S. support for international organizations that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on social media. Officials argued that the agencies targeted are inefficient, redundant or misaligned with U.S. policy goals.
Trump’s decision extends a broader trend in his second term of retreating from multilateral cooperation. In previous actions, the administration withdrew from the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Agreement and the U.N. Human Rights Council.
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Impact on climate and global cooperation
Experts and foreign policy analysts warned that the U.S. exit could weaken global efforts to address shared challenges. Climate scientists, in particular, cautioned that withdrawal from the U.N. climate treaty framework could hinder international coordination to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, given the U.S. role as a leading emitter and major economy. Allies in Europe and Asia have expressed concern that this move could embolden rivals and complicate diplomatic cooperation.
Reactions at home and abroad
Critics of the policy, including human rights advocates and environmental groups, described the withdrawals as an abandonment of U.S. leadership on the global stage. Some lawmakers also expressed concern that pulling back from these organizations could weaken diplomatic ties and cede influence to countries such as China, which continue to invest in international cooperation mechanisms.
Supporters of the policy praised the administration’s focus on prioritizing U.S. interests and reducing what they described as costly entanglements in global bureaucracies. They said redirecting funding and attention to domestic priorities will better serve American citizens.
As formal withdrawal processes begin, the long-term impact on global governance and America’s role in international affairs is expected to unfold over the coming months.