By Ayo Kehinde
United States President Donald J. Trump has ordered the withdrawal of the country from 66 international organisations, including dozens of climate, human rights, development, and United Nations (UN) agencies.
The White House described the sweeping policy shift as a move to save taxpayer money and protect American national interests from “globalist agendas.”
The directive was issued in a presidential memorandum dated Wednesday, January 7, 2026, addressed to the heads of executive departments and agencies.
This action follows an extensive review of U.S. participation in international organizations and treaties ordered under Executive Order 14199, which President Trump signed on February 4, 2025.
That order mandated the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Representative to the UN, to assess all intergovernmental organizations receiving U.S. funding.
Trump stated that he considered the report from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and consulted with his Cabinet before concluding that membership in the listed organizations was “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
The memorandum directs all executive departments to take immediate steps to withdraw from the affected bodies “as soon as possible.” For UN-related entities, this entails ending participation and funding to the extent permitted by law.
The list of 66 organizations includes 31 UN entities and 35 non-UN bodies. Among the most prominent departures are the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—the bedrock treaty for global climate negotiations—and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Other notable non-UN bodies on the list include the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
On the UN side, the withdrawal impacts UN Women, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Peacebuilding Fund, and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Also affected are several regional economic commissions and specialized offices of the UN Secretary-General focused on children in armed conflict and sexual violence in conflict.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move, describing many of the institutions as “anti-American, useless, or wasteful” and accusing them of promoting “climate orthodoxy” and “ideological programs” that conflict with U.S. sovereignty.
President Trump noted that the review process remains ongoing, suggesting that additional organizations could be targeted as further findings are submitted.
The memorandum emphasizes that the action will be implemented in line with existing laws and subject to the availability of appropriations.
This latest move follows earlier withdrawals under the current administration from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Human Rights Council, and the Paris Climate Agreement
