By Micah Jonah
January 8, 2026
United States President, Donald Trump has announced plans to withdraw the country from 66 United Nations and international Organizations, marking one of the most far-reaching shifts in U.S. engagement with global institutions in decades.
The decision was outlined in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday, following a review of international Organizations, conventions and treaties deemed to be contrary to U.S. interests.
Trump said the move would see Washington end its participation in the affected bodies, cut all associated funding.
The withdrawal list includes 35 non-UN Organizations, among them the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It also covers 31 UN entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund.
Several of the affected agencies focus on climate change, democratic governance, maternal and child health, and the protection of vulnerable groups in conflict zones.
A UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the Organization was expected to respond officially to the announcement by Thursday.
Despite publicly advocating reduced U.S. involvement in multilateral forums, Trump has continued to exert pressure on international institutions. His administration has previously imposed sanctions on UN officials, threatened diplomatic penalties over climate-related agreements, and repeatedly used U.S. veto power at the UN Security Council.
Since returning to office, Trump has already withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization, the Paris climate agreement and the UN Human Rights Council. The withdrawal from the WHO is scheduled to take effect on January 22, 2026.
The latest move is expected to further reshape global diplomacy and intensify debate over America’s role in international cooperation.
