The 66 Global Organizations the U.S. Left Under Trump

The 66 Global Organizations the U.S. Left Under Trump

In one of the most sweeping shifts in U.S. foreign policy in decades, the administration of President Donald J. Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations and bodies — including nearly half that are affiliated with the United Nations and others spanning climate, development, security, and governance. (The Washington Post)

Signed in early January 2026, a presidential memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies to cease participation and funding in these organizations, which the White House said no longer “serve American interests, national security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.”\

Why the U.S. Is Leaving

The Trump administration has framed the moves as part of its “America First” foreign policy, arguing that many global institutions promote agendas contrary to U.S. priorities or represent inefficient uses of taxpayer dollars. Officials have criticized organizations involved in climate policy, global governance, migration, labor and other areas they view as “ideological” or overreaching. (The Washington Post)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other administration leaders have described it as restoring U.S. sovereignty and independence on the world stage.

Critics, however, argue that this step amounts to a dramatic retreat from multilateral cooperation, potentially weakening U.S. influence and leaving global challenges — such as climate change and public health — more difficult to tackle. (AP News)

List of the Organizations the U.S. Is Exiting

The full list includes 31 United Nations entities and 35 non-UN international organizations. Below are highlights of many of these groups — covering a wide range of global functions.

31 United Nations-Affiliated Entities

Among the UN bodies from which the U.S. is withdrawing are:

1. Department of Economic and Social Affairs
2. UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) regional commissions for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific, and Western Asia
3. International Law Commission
4. International Trade Centre
5. Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
6. Special Representatives offices for Children in Armed Conflict; Sexual Violence in Conflict; Violence Against Children
7. Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund
8. Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
9. UN Alliance of Civilizations
10. UN Climate and Environmentrelated entities — including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a treaty-based body underpinning global climate negotiations and the Paris Agreement framework
11. UN Democracy Fund
12. UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
13. UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
14. UN Energy, UN Water, UN Human Settlements Programme
15. UN Institute for Training and Research
16. UN Oceans
17. UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination
18. UN System Staff College
19. UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
20. UN Register of Conventional Arms (Al Jazeera)

These entities cover economic development, conflict prevention, gender equality, population health, climate cooperation and more. (Al Jazeera)

Looking Ahead
The long-term effects of withdrawing from these 66 organizations remain to be seen. With the United States stepping back from key international frameworks, other global powers — notably China and the European Union — may fill leadership roles in areas such as climate policy, development finance and international standards setting.

Meanwhile, some U.S. participation in certain sectors — like defense alliances or economic standard bodies — is expected to continue independently of these withdrawals, reflecting a recalibration rather than a total disengagement from global affairs. (pbs.org)