Trump orders US withdrawal from 66 international organisations
President Donald Trump has directed the United States to pull out of 66 international organisations, marking one of the most far-reaching reductions of American involvement in multilateral institutions in recent history.
The decision was announced in a White House fact sheet released on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, which confirmed that Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum instructing federal agencies to withdraw from bodies the administration says no longer align with U.S. interests.
According to the statement, the directive requires all executive departments and agencies to halt participation in and funding for 35 non-United Nations organisations and 31 UN entities. The administration argues that these institutions operate against U.S. national interests, security, economic prosperity or sovereignty.
The move followed a comprehensive review launched earlier in the year to assess all international organisations, conventions and treaties in which the United States holds membership or provides financial support.
The White House said the withdrawals are aimed at stopping taxpayer funding for institutions it claims prioritise global agendas over domestic needs. It argued that American funds would be better redirected to areas that directly benefit the country.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively,” the statement said.
‘Restoring American sovereignty’
Framing the policy as a push to reinforce national independence, the administration said Trump is seeking to end U.S. participation in organisations that undermine sovereignty and waste public funds.
The White House accused several of the affected bodies of promoting policies inconsistent with American values and economic strength, including what it described as “radical climate policies, global governance and ideological programmes.”
It added that despite years of U.S. financial contributions, the benefits have been limited.
“American taxpayers have spent billions on these organisations with little return, while they often criticise U.S. policies or advance agendas contrary to our values,” the administration said.
By exiting the organisations, officials said the president is saving taxpayer money and refocusing resources on “America First” priorities.
Continuation of Trump’s global pullback
The latest decision builds on a series of high-profile withdrawals since Trump returned to office, reinforcing a foreign policy centred on sovereignty and unilateral decision-making.
Soon after resuming office, Trump moved to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. On his first day back, he also rejected the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Global Tax Deal, declaring it had no effect in the U.S. and ordering a review of whether foreign tax rules unfairly target American companies.
Weeks later, Trump signed an executive order pulling the United States out of the UN Human Rights Council and banning future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Domestic focus
The administration said the withdrawals form part of a broader effort to redirect attention and resources toward domestic priorities such as infrastructure, military readiness and border security, while shielding American companies from foreign interference.
While critics are expected to warn that the move could weaken U.S. influence on the global stage, the White House described it as a strategic recalibration rather than a retreat.
Officials said the message is clear: international engagement must serve American interests—or it will be abandoned.
The White House later noted on X that of the 66 organisations affected, 31 are UN bodies while 35 are non-UN entities.
