President Donald Trump on January 7 signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations following a State Department review ordered earlier this year.
The memorandum implements findings produced under Executive Order 14199, issued in February 2025, which required a comprehensive review of all international intergovernmental organizations, conventions, and treaties to which the United States belongs or provides funding. After reviewing the report and consulting with his Cabinet, Trump concluded that continued U.S. participation in dozens of international bodies was “contrary to the interests of the United States.”
The directive orders all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to effectuate U.S. withdrawal from the listed organizations “as soon as possible.” For United Nations–affiliated entities, withdrawal is defined as ceasing participation or funding “to the extent permitted by law.”
Organizations the United States Is Exiting
The memorandum identifies 35 non–United Nations organizations and 31 United Nations–affiliated entities from which the U.S. will withdraw.
Non-United Nations organizations include:
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- International Renewable Energy Agency
- International Solar Alliance
- International Union for Conservation of Nature
- Global Forum on Migration and Development
- Education Cannot Wait
- International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
- Global Counterterrorism Forum
- Commission for Environmental Cooperation
- Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
(full list specified in the memorandum)
United Nations–affiliated entities include:
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
- UN Population Fund
- UN Democracy Fund
- UN Conference on Trade and Development
- UN Human Settlements Programme
- UN Oceans
- UN Water
- UN University
- Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund
(full list specified in the memorandum)
The organizations span a wide range of policy areas, including climate and environmental regulation, migration, development finance, gender and population programs, economic governance, and international legal and advisory bodies.
Legal Scope and Ongoing Review
The memorandum emphasizes that it does not withdraw the United States from the United Nations itself. Instead, it directs agencies to cease participation or funding for specific programs and entities, subject to existing law and appropriations authority.
The order also states that the Secretary of State’s review remains ongoing, leaving open the possibility of additional withdrawals following further findings.
Implementation guidance will be issued by the State Department, and the memorandum directs that it be published in the Federal Register. It also clarifies that the directive does not create enforceable legal rights and does not alter the statutory authority of federal agencies or the Office of Management and Budget.
The move represents one of the most expansive reductions of U.S. participation in international organizations in recent decades and builds on earlier Trump administration actions to reassess American involvement in multilateral institutions.
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