U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations, marking one of the most sweeping pullbacks from global institutions in modern American history.
The decision was announced Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the move follows an administration-wide review conducted under Executive Order 14199. The review assessed U.S. participation and funding across international bodies worldwide.
According to Rubio, the Trump administration determined that many of these organisations are redundant, poorly managed, ineffective, or actively working against American interests. Others, he said, have evolved into platforms for ideological agendas that undermine national sovereignty while draining U.S. resources with little measurable return.
“It is no longer acceptable to continue sending the blood, sweat, and treasure of the American people to institutions that deliver little to nothing in return,” Rubio stated.
The administration argues that for years, billions of dollars in U.S. taxpayer funds have flowed into international bodies that produce minimal results while advancing policies at odds with the Trump administration’s priorities. Rubio emphasized that this era of unchecked funding is coming to an end.
President Trump has directed all executive departments and federal agencies to take immediate steps to complete the withdrawals as quickly as possible.
Of the 66 organisations affected, 31 are affiliated with the United Nations, while the remaining 35 operate independently of the UN system. High-profile institutions on the list include the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which the White House says operate in ways that conflict with U.S. national interests.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has moved swiftly to reshape U.S. foreign engagement. Early in his term, he ordered the United States to exit the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Weeks later, he signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and permanently halting funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA).
The UNFCCC serves as the central framework for global climate action, coordinating international efforts through annual climate summits (COP meetings) and agreements such as the Paris Accord. Trump has long dismissed climate change initiatives, repeatedly referring to them as a “scam.”
Meanwhile, UNFPA focuses on expanding access to family planning, maternal healthcare, and initiatives to combat gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage. Historically, the United States has been one of UNFPA’s largest donors, supporting its programs across more than 150 countries.
The latest withdrawals underscore the Trump administration’s broader push to prioritize national sovereignty, reduce international spending, and redefine America’s role on the global stage.
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