President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations, deepening his administration’s shift away from multilateral engagement and signalling a major recalibration of Washington’s role in global institutions.
The decision was announced in a White House Fact Sheet released on January 7, 2026, after Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing federal agencies to disengage from organisations the administration says “no longer serve American interests.”
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations that no longer serve American interests,” the White House said.
Under the directive, all executive departments and agencies are to immediately cease participation in and funding of 35 non-UN organisations and 31 United Nations entities. The administration argued that the affected bodies operate in ways that undermine US sovereignty, security, economic prosperity or strategic priorities.
The move followed an extensive internal review of all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions and treaties in which the United States is a member or contributor.
According to the White House, the withdrawals are aimed at halting the use of taxpayer funds on institutions accused of promoting global agendas that conflict with domestic priorities.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities or address important issues inefficiently and ineffectively,” the statement said.
America First rationale
Framing the decision as a defence of national independence, the administration said Trump was acting to protect US sovereignty and economic strength.
“Many of these organisations promote radical climate policies, global governance and ideological programmes that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic growth,” the Fact Sheet stated.
The White House added that despite years of significant US funding, many of the institutions have delivered limited benefits.
“American taxpayers have spent billions on these organisations with little return, while they often criticise U.S. policies, advance agendas contrary to our values or fail to achieve real results,” it said.
By exiting the bodies, the administration said the president is cutting waste and refocusing resources on what it called “America First” priorities.
Part of a broader pullback
The latest withdrawals build on a series of earlier moves since Trump returned to office, reinforcing a foreign policy approach that favours unilateral action over collective decision-making.
Shortly after resuming office, Trump initiated the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement.
On his first day in office, he also signed a Presidential Memorandum notifying the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development that its Global Tax Deal would have no force or effect in the United States, while ordering a review of whether foreign tax rules unfairly target American companies.
Weeks later, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the UN Human Rights Council and banning future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA).
Focus on domestic priorities
The White House said the withdrawals are part of a broader effort to redirect attention and funding toward domestic concerns, including infrastructure development, border security and military readiness.
“President Trump has prioritised American interests by refocusing resources on domestic priorities and acting swiftly to protect American companies from foreign interference,” the statement said.
While critics are expected to warn that the decision could weaken US influence on the global stage, the administration insists the move represents a strategic reset rather than isolation.
Officials said the message is clear: US participation in international organisations must deliver tangible benefits to Americans or it will end.
The White House later confirmed on X that of the 66 organisations affected, 31 are UN entities while 35 fall outside the UN system.
Leave a Reply