President Donald J. Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the United States' withdrawal from 66 international organizations. The directive mandates executive departments and agencies to cease participation in and funding for 35 non-United Nations (UN) organizations and 31 UN entities, following a comprehensive review of U.S. involvement in international bodies.
Overview of the Directive
The memorandum instructs all Executive Departments and Agencies to take immediate steps to facilitate the withdrawal from the specified organizations as swiftly as possible. For entities associated with the United Nations, the process involves ceasing participation or funding, to the extent permitted by law. The Secretary of State is responsible for providing any necessary additional guidance to agencies for the implementation of this memorandum and is authorized to publish it in the Federal Register. The provisions of the memorandum are to be carried out consistent with applicable law and are subject to the availability of appropriations.
Background and Rationale
This directive originates from Executive Order 14199, issued on February 4, 2025. This order mandated the Secretary of State, in consultation with the U.S. Representative to the United Nations, to conduct a comprehensive review. The review's purpose was to assess all international intergovernmental organizations receiving U.S. funding or support, as well as all conventions and treaties to which the U.S. is a party, to identify those deemed contrary to U.S. interests.
After considering the Secretary of State's report and engaging in deliberations with the Cabinet, President Trump concluded that withdrawal from the specified organizations aligns with the interests of the United States. The administration stated that these organizations operate contrary to U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty. According to the administration, the withdrawals aim to end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities described as advancing agendas over U.S. priorities, or addressing issues inefficiently or ineffectively. The administration has indicated that U.S. taxpayer dollars could be better allocated to support relevant missions through other means. The review of additional findings from the Secretary of State remains ongoing.
Organizations Affected by the Withdrawal
The memorandum specifies 66 organizations from which the United States is to withdraw. These are categorized as follows:
Non-United Nations Organizations (35 entities):
- 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
- Colombo Plan Council
- Commission for Environmental Cooperation
- Education Cannot Wait
- European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
- Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
- Freedom Online Coalition
- Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
- Global Counterterrorism Forum
- Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
- Global Forum on Migration and Development
- Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
- Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
- International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
- International Cotton Advisory Committee
- International Development Law Organization
- International Energy Forum
- International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
- International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law
- International Lead and Zinc Study Group
- International Renewable Energy Agency
- International Solar Alliance
- International Tropical Timber Organization
- International Union for Conservation of Nature
- Pan American Institute of Geography and History
- Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
- Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia
- Regional Cooperation Council
- Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century
- Science and Technology Center in Ukraine
- Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
- Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
United Nations (UN) Organizations (31 entities):
- Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — Economic Commission for Africa
- ECOSOC — Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
- ECOSOC — Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
- ECOSOC — Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
- International Law Commission
- International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
- International Trade Centre
- Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
- Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
- Peacebuilding Commission
- Peacebuilding Fund
- Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
- UN Alliance of Civilizations
- UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
- UN Conference on Trade and Development
- UN Democracy Fund
- UN Energy
- UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- UN Human Settlements Programme
- UN Institute for Training and Research
- UN Oceans
- UN Population Fund
- UN Register of Conventional Arms
- UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
- UN System Staff College
- UN Water
- UN University