STAFF REPORTER
Washington, January 7, 2026 — US President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from or cease funding multiple international and United Nations organisations, saying continued participation is “contrary to the interests of the United States”.
In a presidential memorandum issued on Tuesday, Trump directed all executive departments and agencies to take “immediate steps” to effect the withdrawals following a comprehensive review led by the Secretary of State under Executive Order 14199, signed in February 2025.
“I have determined that it is contrary to the interests of the United States to remain a member of, participate in, or otherwise provide support to the organisations listed in this memorandum,” Trump said. He added that the decision followed deliberations with his Cabinet after reviewing the Secretary of State’s findings.
The directive covers more than 60 bodies, including 35 non-United Nations organisations and 31 UN entities. For UN organisations, withdrawal is defined as “ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law”.
Among the non-UN organisations affected are the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Several bodies linked to climate policy, migration, governance, culture and sustainable development are also included.
The order also applies to a wide range of UN institutions and programmes, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Women, the UN Population Fund, UN Conference on Trade and Development and the UN Human Settlements Programme. Multiple regional economic commissions operating under the UN Economic and Social Council are also targeted, alongside offices dealing with Africa, children in armed conflict and sexual violence in conflict.
Trump said the move was consistent with his administration’s broader reassessment of US engagement with multilateral institutions. “Consistent with Executive Order 14199 and pursuant to the authority vested in me as President, I hereby direct all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawal of the United States from the organisations listed,” he said.
The memorandum notes that the review of US participation in international organisations is ongoing, signalling that further withdrawals could follow.
The Secretary of State has been tasked with issuing additional guidance to agencies to manage implementation, while ensuring compliance with existing US law and budgetary requirements. The memorandum also states that it does not create any enforceable legal rights and will be implemented subject to the availability of appropriations.
Trump authorised the Secretary of State to publish the memorandum in the Federal Register, formalising the decision and setting the withdrawal process in motion across the federal government.
The move represents one of the most expansive rollbacks of US engagement with multilateral institutions in recent history and is expected to carry significant diplomatic, development and geopolitical implications globally.
