US President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from dozens of international organisations, including many focused on climate change and global governance. The decision affects 66 entities, nearly half of which are affiliated with the United Nations.
Among those impacted is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the treaty that forms the foundation of international cooperation to address global warming. The White House said the withdrawals were justified on the grounds that these organisations no longer align with US interests and support agendas considered ineffective or hostile.
According to an official statement, the move follows a review that concluded continued participation amounted to a misuse of public funds. The administration said the decision would end US financial contributions and involvement in bodies it believes prioritise global initiatives over national priorities. It further accused several organisations of promoting policies and programmes that conflict with US sovereignty and economic objectives.
The list also includes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN body responsible for assessing global climate science, as well as agencies involved in peacebuilding, democracy promotion, family planning, maternal and child health, and addressing sexual violence in conflict zones.
Trump has previously reduced funding to multilateral institutions he opposes and has repeatedly dismissed the scientific consensus on climate change. The memorandum formalising the withdrawals was signed on Wednesday.
Legal experts note that while the US Constitution outlines the process for joining treaties, it is less clear on the procedure for withdrawing from them, raising the possibility of legal challenges to the decision.
The move has drawn criticism from advocacy groups. The Union of Concerned Scientists described the decision as a significant setback. Its senior policy director, Rachel Cleetus, said the action reflected an approach that undermines science, public welfare, and international cooperation.
The withdrawals follow Trump’s earlier decision to exit the Paris climate agreement once again and his choice not to send a US delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, reinforcing the administration’s broader shift away from global climate engagement.