President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations, agencies and commissions, marking one of the most sweeping retreats from multilateral engagement in modern U.S. history.
According to a presidential memorandum issued on Wednesday and reported by Xinhua and The Independent Uganda, the decision affects 31 United Nations–affiliated bodies and 35 non-UN organizations. The White House says the move reflects concerns that the affected institutions are mismanaged, ineffective or operate against U.S. interests, and insists the withdrawals align with the administration’s renewed “America First” policy direction.
In a separate statement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the organizations as “wasteful, ineffective, or harmful,” reinforcing long-standing criticism from Trump allies that many international bodies promote policy agenda, particularly on climate change, migration, labor and gender, that conflict with U.S. priorities.
A substantial number of the organizations targeted are involved in climate and environmental policy. These include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the International Solar Alliance. The United States will also exit several UN entities focused on population, gender equality, urban development and water, such as UN Women, the UN Population Fund, UN-Habitat and UN Water.
The order further extends to institutions dealing with migration, democracy and governance, including the Global Forum on Migration and Development, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and the International Development Law Organization. Several security and counterterrorism platforms are also affected, notably the Global Counterterrorism Forum and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, raising concerns among analysts about potential implications for intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to transnational threats.
The move follows earlier decisions by the Trump administration to withdraw from or suspend participation in bodies such as the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council. Critics argue that the cumulative impact of these withdrawals significantly diminishes U.S. influence in shaping global standards, while potentially opening space for rival powers, including China and Russia, to expand their role in international governance.
Despite the criticism, the White House maintains that the withdrawals will reduce financial commitments, limit bureaucratic constraints and allow the United States to pursue bilateral and regional arrangements it considers more effective and aligned with national interests. Administration officials insist the decision represents a recalibration rather than isolation, though analysts say it signals a clear shift away from collective global action toward unilateral policymaking.
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