Trump Orders U.S. Withdrawal from 66 International Organizations

President Donald Trump signed executive orders late last night directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN treaty overseeing global climate negotiations.

The White House announced via its official X account that Trump’s presidential memorandum instructs the U.S. to exit 35 non-UN organizations and 31 UN-affiliated bodies, citing that these institutions "no longer serve American interests."

The State Department, in a statement reported by U.S. media outlets, explained that the administration found many of these entities to be redundant, poorly managed, unnecessary, wasteful, and influenced by actors pursuing agendas conflicting with U.S. priorities. “These organizations risk undermining our sovereignty, freedom, and overall prosperity,” the statement read.

The decision marks one of the most extensive U.S. withdrawals from international institutions in recent history, reflecting the administration’s broader agenda to recalibrate American engagement on the global stage. Critics argue the move could weaken U.S. influence in multilateral decision-making and complicate cooperation on issues ranging from health and human rights to climate and economic development.

Trump framed the withdrawals as a step to prioritize national interests, asserting that “America must ensure that international partnerships work for our people, not against them.”

This action follows a series of similar initiatives during Trump’s tenure aimed at scaling back U.S. participation in global agreements and institutions. Observers anticipate debates in Congress and the international community regarding the broader implications of the withdrawals.