United States President Donald Trump has ordered the country’s withdrawal from 66 international organisations, declaring that the affected bodies no longer serve American interests.
The directive was issued through a Presidential Memorandum signed on January 7, 2026, and made public on Wednesday in a fact sheet released by the White House. It instructs all federal departments and agencies to immediately halt participation in and funding for 35 non–United Nations organisations and 31 agencies linked to the United Nations.
According to the White House, the decision followed a comprehensive review of every international organisation, treaty and agreement to which the United States belongs or contributes financially.
“These organisations no longer advance the national interests of the United States,” the administration said, adding that many of them “undermine U.S. sovereignty, economic growth, and security.”
The memorandum stated that billions of dollars in public funds have been spent on the organisations over the years with “little or no measurable benefit” to Americans.
“The president is committed to ensuring that American taxpayer dollars are not wasted on institutions that prioritise global agendas over the needs of the American people,” the White House said.
Officials argued that several of the affected bodies routinely criticise U.S. policies or promote programmes related to climate change, global governance and social issues that “conflict with American values and economic strength.”
“The United States will no longer bankroll organisations that work against our interests or weaken our ability to make independent national decisions,” a senior administration official said.
The White House said the withdrawals are part of a broader effort to protect U.S. independence and refocus resources on domestic priorities. Savings from the move, officials said, will be redirected toward infrastructure development, military readiness, border security and measures aimed at protecting American businesses from what the administration describes as unfair foreign regulations.
“This is about putting America first,” the statement said. “We are ending involvement in institutions that waste public funds and fail to deliver results.”
The latest decision builds on a series of withdrawals since Trump returned to office. Shortly after his inauguration, the United States exited the World Health Organization and pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement.
On his first day back in office, Trump also moved to block the global tax deal championed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, arguing that it “has no force or effect in the United States.”
Weeks later, his administration approved the withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council and halted all future funding for the UN agency that supports Palestinian refugees.
The White House said further reviews of international commitments will continue, stressing that “any organisation that does not clearly benefit the American people will be reconsidered.”
