The United States government under President Donald Trump has announced its decision to once again pull out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), accusing the agency of promoting a “globalist agenda” that contradicts America’s national interests.
The decision, confirmed by the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, marks another step in Trump’s broader effort to reduce American involvement in multilateral institutions. The withdrawal is set to take effect at the end of 2026.
“Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,” said Tammy Bruce, spokeswoman for the State Department. She criticized the Paris-based agency for championing what she called “divisive social and cultural causes” and aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which she described as part of “a globalist, ideological agenda” that runs counter to the administration’s ‘America First’ foreign policy.
The move comes just two years after the Biden administration rejoined UNESCO in 2023, reversing Trump’s previous withdrawal in 2017. That exit had been driven by claims of anti-Israel bias within the agency, although the U.S. had remained a non-member observer.
UNESCO, founded in 1945, is known globally for its designation of World Heritage Sites—recognizing over 1,200 locations across the globe, including U.S. national parks. It also promotes education, scientific cooperation, literacy, women’s rights, clean water access, and ethics in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
The United States has long had a rocky relationship with the agency. In 2011, Washington halted funding to UNESCO after it granted full membership to Palestine—a move that cut roughly 20% of the organization’s budget and forced significant program reductions.
Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order mandating a review of U.S. contributions to UN bodies, including UNESCO. White House staff secretary Will Scharf echoed long-standing Republican concerns, accusing the agency of harboring “anti-American bias.”
Despite this, critics argue the U.S. withdrawal will further diminish American
