Trump orders U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations

• Trump orders U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations, citing American interests.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Wednesday directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, including a significant number of United Nations-affiliated bodies and non-UN entities, the White House announced.

The move represents one of the most sweeping retreats from global institutions in recent American history.

Read more: Trump says US will decide which oil firms will operate in Venezuela

White House frames decision as defending U.S. interests

According to the White House fact sheet, the memorandum orders all executive departments and agencies to cease participation in and funding for 35 non-UN organizations and 31 UN entities that the administration argues no longer serve American national interests, security, economic prosperity or sovereignty.

Officials said many of the targeted bodies promote policies that the current administration views as “globalist” and at odds with U.S. priorities.

The administration cited its broader review of U.S. membership in intergovernmental organizations, treaties and agreements as the basis for the decision, asserting that taxpayer money could be better spent on domestic priorities and that some institutions address global issues “inefficiently or ineffectively.”

Major bodies affected

Among the notable entities from which the United States will withdraw are key climate-related and development organizations. High-profile exits include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the long-standing climate treaty that underpins the 2015 Paris Agreement, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), a major international agency providing reproductive health services worldwide.

The administration also plans to pull out of other environmental, conservation, migration and governance bodies.

Other organizations on the withdrawal list include several technical, research, trade and cultural bodies, reflecting the broad scope of the memorandum.

Reaction from critics

Critics of the decision have warned the withdrawals could weaken U.S. influence in global diplomacy and cooperation on crucial issues such as climate change, health and human development. Many foreign policy analysts argue that retreating from established multilateral frameworks may cede leadership to other nations and hinder global efforts on shared challenges.

Environmental and rights groups also expressed concern that exiting major climate and development organizations could isolate the United States at a time when global cooperation is deemed critical by scientists and diplomats.

What happens next

The memorandum instructs U.S. agencies to begin formalizing the withdrawals as soon as possible. While some exits may take time due to legal and procedural requirements, the direction marks a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward skepticism of multilateral engagement.