White House in Washington DC
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WASHINGTON-DC — The United States has announced plans to withdraw from 66 international organizations following a review of its participation in multilateral bodies, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on January 7, 2026. The decision follows a presidential memorandum signed by President Donald J. Trump, directing a reassessment of U.S. involvement in international organizations and agreements to which the country contributes funding or support, according to the White House.
The review, conducted under Executive Order 14199, identified 31 organizations affiliated with the United Nations and 35 other intergovernmental bodies that the administration said no longer align with U.S. policy priorities. Administration officials stated that some organizations were viewed as duplicative in mission, inefficient in management, or inconsistent with current U.S. strategic and economic objectives.
In a fact sheet accompanying the announcement, the White House said the memorandum is intended to end U.S. participation and funding for international organizations the administration views as operating contrary to American national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.
Rubio said the move does not signal a withdrawal from global engagement, but rather a shift toward what he described as more targeted and outcome-driven international participation. He said the administration’s review concluded that continued involvement in certain institutions had resulted in significant federal spending without what officials characterized as measurable benefits to U.S. interests.
According to the announcement, the review includes organizations involved in areas such as climate policy, environmental cooperation, and global governance. Officials indicated that U.S. participation in certain climate-related bodies and agreements associated with the United Nations framework is under review or subject to changes in funding and engagement, rather than automatic continued membership.
The administration described the policy shift as consistent with an “America First” approach, emphasizing national sovereignty, fiscal accountability, and alignment with domestic priorities in decisions regarding multilateral participation.
The announcement said the President made clear that the United States would no longer continue funding international institutions without what the administration views as tangible results, and that the policy is intended to redirect taxpayer resources toward domestic priorities.
In a separate statement, Rubio said the United States would not continue committing diplomatic or financial resources to institutions he described as misaligned with U.S. interests, adding that future cooperation would be pursued selectively and based on demonstrable benefit to the American people. U.S. Department of State.
U.S. officials said future engagement with international organizations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with continued participation dependent on alignment with national objectives and demonstrated effectiveness, according to the White House.
Sources: White House fact sheet; statements from the U.S. Department of State. The White House The White House
