Washington | United States President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping proclamation withdrawing the country from more than 60 international organisations, marking one of the most far-reaching changes to US engagement with global institutions in recent years.
According to a statement issued by the White House, the decision covers 31 United Nations bodies and 35 non-UN international organisations that the administration says operate contrary to American national interests. While the government did not release a detailed list of the organisations affected, it said many of them promote policies and programmes that conflict with US sovereignty and economic priorities.
The White House said the move followed a comprehensive review of all international intergovernmental organisations, treaties and conventions in which the United States participates. The review concluded that continued involvement in several global bodies was no longer aligned with Washington’s strategic, economic or policy goals.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities,” the statement said. It added that some organisations addressed important issues inefficiently or ineffectively, making it preferable to redirect funding toward alternative mechanisms that better serve US interests.
Officials said the decision reflects the administration’s belief that multilateral institutions have increasingly promoted ideological programmes, including what it described as radical climate policies and expansive global governance frameworks, at the expense of national decision-making authority.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification on which specific organisations were included in the withdrawal order, raising questions among diplomats and policy experts about the scope and immediate impact of the decision.
The move builds on a series of actions taken since Trump began his second term. Over the past year, the administration has reduced funding to the United Nations, halted US participation in the UN Human Rights Council, extended a freeze on contributions to the Palestinian relief agency UNRWA, and exited UNESCO, the UN’s cultural and educational body. Trump has also announced plans to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement.
Supporters of the decision argue that it reinforces national sovereignty and ensures that US taxpayer funds are spent in line with domestic priorities. Critics, however, warn that the mass withdrawal could weaken international cooperation on global challenges such as health, climate change, humanitarian crises and security, while reducing Washington’s influence in shaping global norms.
The proclamation is expected to trigger diplomatic discussions with allies and international partners in the coming weeks, as global institutions assess the implications of the US stepping back from multilateral engagement on an unprecedented scale.
