President Donald Trump has directed the United States to pull out of 66 international organisations, marking one of the most far-reaching retreats from multilateral engagement in recent US history.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, was confirmed in a White House Fact Sheet dated January 7, 2026, which stated that Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the withdrawals as part of a broader effort to realign America’s foreign commitments with what the administration describes as core national interests.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations that no longer serve American interests,” the White House said.
Under the directive, all executive departments and agencies have been instructed to halt participation in and funding for 35 non-United Nations organisations and 31 UN-related entities. The administration said the affected bodies operate “contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty.”
The move followed a comprehensive review launched earlier in the year that examined “all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions, and treaties that the United States is a member of or party to, or that the United States funds or supports.”
According to the White House, the aim is to stop US taxpayer money from supporting institutions it believes prioritise global objectives over American needs.
“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 such that U.S. taxpayer dollars are best allocated in other ways,” the statement said.
The administration framed the action as a sovereignty-driven policy choice, arguing that many international bodies undermine US independence and economic strength.
“Many of these bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength,” the Fact Sheet said.
It added that despite heavy financial contributions over the years, the benefits to the United States have been limited.
“American taxpayers have spent billions on these organisations with little return, while they often criticise US policies, advance agendas contrary to our values, or waste taxpayer dollars by purporting to address important issues but not achieving any real results,” the White House said.
By withdrawing, the administration said Trump is “saving taxpayer money and refocusing resources on America First priorities.”
The latest action builds on a series of withdrawals since Trump’s return to office, reinforcing a foreign policy approach centred on unilateral decision-making and national sovereignty.
“Immediately upon returning to office, President Trump initiated the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement,” the White House noted.
On his first day back in office, Trump also moved to disengage from global tax coordination.
“On Day One of his Administration, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to notify the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development that its Global Tax Deal has no force or effect in the United States,” the statement said, adding that he ordered a review into whether foreign tax regimes “disproportionately affect American companies.”
Weeks later, the administration announced additional exits.
“President Trump signed an Executive Order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and prohibiting any future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East (UNRWA),” the White House said.
Officials said the withdrawals are part of a wider effort to redirect attention and funding toward domestic concerns.
“He has prioritised American interests by redirecting focus and resources toward domestic priorities such as infrastructure, military readiness, and border security, and acting swiftly to protect American companies from foreign interference,” the statement said.
While critics are expected to argue that the move could weaken US global influence, the administration described it as a strategic recalibration rather than disengagement, stressing that international involvement must directly benefit the United States.
In a post on X, the White House clarified that of the 66 organisations affected, 31 are UN entities and 35 are non-UN bodies.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations that no longer serve American interests including: 35 non-UN organisations and 31 UN entities,” it said.
