This is very concerning. The United States is progressively withdrawing from most international organizations. Trump had already with their own from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNESCO. On 7th January he took the United States out of 66 international organizations or treaties, including 31 UN agencies and funds.
Before that, the U.S. was a member of 12 of the 15 UN Specialized Agencies (autonomous organizations that work with the UN). Now it is only a member of two of them: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The U.S. has historically participated in over 30 affiliated funds and programmes. The U.S. has now exited effectively all major voluntary UN humanitarian, development, and climate organizations, including the Peacebuilding Commission and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
In addition to the UN entities, the presidential memorandum signed on January 7, 2026, directed the United States to withdraw from 35 non-UN international organizations.
The White House described these organizations as "wasteful" or advancing agendas contrary to U.S. interests, particularly regarding climate change, "woke" ideology, and global governance.
Here are the major non-UN organizations and treaties included in the withdrawal order, categorized by sector:
Climate, Energy, and Environment
The administration targeted almost every major international body focused on renewable energy and climate science outside the direct UN structure.
Democracy, Law, and Governance
Security and Other Sectors
Before that, the U.S. was a member of 12 of the 15 UN Specialized Agencies (autonomous organizations that work with the UN). Now it is only a member of two of them: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The U.S. has historically participated in over 30 affiliated funds and programmes. The U.S. has now exited effectively all major voluntary UN humanitarian, development, and climate organizations, including the Peacebuilding Commission and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
In addition to the UN entities, the presidential memorandum signed on January 7, 2026, directed the United States to withdraw from 35 non-UN international organizations.
The White House described these organizations as "wasteful" or advancing agendas contrary to U.S. interests, particularly regarding climate change, "woke" ideology, and global governance.
Here are the major non-UN organizations and treaties included in the withdrawal order, categorized by sector:
Climate, Energy, and Environment
The administration targeted almost every major international body focused on renewable energy and climate science outside the direct UN structure.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): The leading global body for climate science (created by the UN, but listed in the non-UN section of the order).
- International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA): An intergovernmental organization that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA): A treaty-based organization focused on solar power deployment.
- Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC): Established under the NAFTA/USMCA framework to address regional environmental concerns.
- International Energy Forum (IEF): The world's largest gathering of energy ministers.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): A global authority on the status of the natural world and measures needed to safeguard it.
Democracy, Law, and Governance
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA): An organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide.
- Venice Commission (of the Council of Europe): An advisory body on constitutional law.
- International Development Law Organization (IDLO): Dedicated to promoting the rule of law.
Security and Other Sectors
- Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF): A multilateral platform to strengthen civilian counterterrorism architecture.
- Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD): A process for discussing the multi-dimensional aspects of migration.
- Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU): An intergovernmental organization established to prevent the proliferation of WMD expertise.