United States President Donald Trump has ordered the withdrawal of the country from 66 international organisations, marking a major shift in America’s foreign policy engagement.
The decision was announced on Wednesday through a White House Fact Sheet dated January 7, 2026.
According to the White House, Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing all US government departments and agencies to stop participating in and funding organisations that the administration believes no longer serve American 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.
The directive affects 35 non-United Nations organisations and 31 UN-related entities. The administration said these bodies operate in ways that go against US national interests, security, economic growth, or sovereignty.
The White House explained that the move followed a wide review of all international organisations, treaties, and conventions that the US belongs to or supports financially.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively,” the statement said.
The administration accused many of the affected organisations of pushing policies that conflict with US values.
“Many of these bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programmes that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength,” the Fact Sheet added.
It also said the US has spent billions of dollars on such organisations without meaningful results.
“American taxpayers have spent billions on these organisations with little return, while they often criticise US policies or advance agendas contrary to our values,” the White House said.
The withdrawal is part of Trump’s broader push to reduce US involvement in multilateral institutions since returning to office.
“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 in office, Trump also rejected 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.
Weeks later, Trump signed another order pulling the US out of the UN Human Rights Council and stopping funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for the Near East.
The White House said the latest withdrawals are meant to free up resources for domestic needs.
“He has prioritised American interests by redirecting focus and resources toward domestic priorities such as infrastructure, military readiness, and border security,” it said.
While critics warn that the move could weaken US influence globally, the administration insisted it is about putting America first.
In a post on X, the White House confirmed that out of the 66 organisations, 31 are UN bodies while 35 are non-UN entities.
“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,” it stated.
