By Desmond Nleya
The United States has announced plans to withdraw from 66 United Nations and international organisations, marking one of the most sweeping rollbacks of US engagement in multilateral institutions in recent history.
President Donald Trump revealed the decision in a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday evening, saying the move followed a review of organisations, conventions and treaties deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States”.
The withdrawals will see Washington cease participation and cut all funding to the affected bodies.
According to the White House, the list includes 35 non-UN organisations, notably the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
While the administration categorised the IPCC as a non-UN body, it is in fact a UN-affiliated organisation that brings together leading scientists to assess climate change evidence and provide guidance to policymakers.
In addition, the US plans to withdraw from 31 UN entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the UN Democracy Fund, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), which focuses on maternal and child health.
Several of the targeted UN offices are involved in protecting vulnerable populations during armed conflicts, including the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict.
Responding to the announcement, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Wednesday evening that the organisation expected to issue a formal response by Thursday morning.
Despite publicly advocating for reduced US involvement in multilateral forums, Trump has continued to exert significant influence within international institutions. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the US retains veto power, which it has repeatedly used to block resolutions aimed at ending Israel’s war on Gaza before later mediating a ceasefire.
During his second term, which began in January last year, Trump has already withdrawn the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Paris Climate Agreement, and the UN Human Rights Council — decisions that mirror withdrawals made during his first administration and later reversed under former President Joe Biden.
The withdrawal from the WHO is scheduled to take effect on January 22, 2026, one year after the order was issued. Between 2024 and 2025, the US contributed approximately $261 million to the organisation, accounting for about 18 percent of its total funding.
The Trump administration has also maintained a funding ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), a policy that began under the Biden administration.
In previous years, Trump threatened sanctions against diplomats supporting international climate measures and imposed penalties on UN officials, including a special rapporteur who documented the role of international and US companies in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
The latest decision signals a continued shift away from multilateral cooperation, particularly in areas of climate change, human rights and global governance.
