WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from dozens of United Nations agencies and international organisations, marking one of the most far-reaching rollbacks of US multilateral engagement in recent years.
In a memorandum addressed to heads of executive departments and agencies, Trump directed the immediate implementation of withdrawals following a State Department review conducted under Executive Order 14199, issued on February 4, 2025.
The review assessed all international intergovernmental organisations, treaties and conventions to which the US belongs or provides funding, with the aim of determining whether they align with American national interests.
After considering the findings and consulting his Cabinet, Trump concluded that continued participation in several bodies was “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
Under the directive, US agencies are required to take steps “as soon as possible” to end participation and support for the listed organisations.
For United Nations entities, withdrawal will involve halting participation or funding to the extent permitted by law.
Wide-Ranging Withdrawals
The decision affects more than 60 organisations across climate policy, human rights, development, energy, trade, gender equality, peacebuilding and scientific research.
Among non-UN bodies, the US will withdraw from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
The list also includes forums focused on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, migration, environmental cooperation, renewable energy, cultural preservation and electoral governance.
At the United Nations level, the withdrawal covers major agencies and offices such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Women, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN-Habitat, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and multiple UN economic commissions covering Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East.
Several UN offices focused on conflict prevention, peacebuilding, children in armed conflict, sexual violence, and people of African descent are also affected.
Ongoing Review
The memorandum notes that the administration’s assessment of international commitments is still underway, suggesting that further decisions on US participation in global bodies could follow.
Implementation guidance will be issued by the Secretary of State, while the directive emphasises that all actions must comply with existing laws and available appropriations.
The memorandum will be published in the Federal Register.
The move reinforces Trump’s long-standing “America First” approach to foreign policy, which prioritises national sovereignty and reduced reliance on multilateral institutions.
