US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending America’s participation in 66 United Nations agencies and international organisations, including the UN climate treaty framework, in what officials describe as a major reset of US engagement with global institutions.
The move, announced on Wednesday, affects bodies focused on climate change, labour, migration and development, which the administration says promote agendas that conflict with US interests. The decision marks the largest withdrawal from multilateral institutions in modern US history.
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, said the affected organisations were “mismanaged, wasteful, poorly run” and, in some cases, a threat to US sovereignty. He added that the administration would no longer allow “billions of dollars in taxpayer money” to flow to institutions that do not clearly serve American interests.
A key element of the order is the US withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 1992 treaty underpinning the Paris Agreement, effectively leaving the United States outside the global climate framework. Trump has long dismissed climate change concerns and had earlier pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement after returning to office.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from climate experts and former US officials. Gina McCarthy, former White House climate adviser, called the move “shortsighted and embarrassing,” warning it would reduce US influence over global climate policy and investment.
Climate scientist Rob Jackson, who chairs the Global Carbon Project, said the withdrawal could encourage other countries to delay emissions-cutting commitments.
Advocacy groups also condemned the move, with ActionAid USA warning that it undermines global efforts on climate and social justice.
Beyond climate, the US is also exiting the UN Population Fund, as well as organisations including the United Nations University, International Tropical Timber Organisation, and several commodity and energy-related groups.
The administration has already suspended support for the World Health Organisation, UNRWA, the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO, adopting what officials call a selective, “à la carte” approach to multilateral funding.
Analysts say the decision reflects a hardline shift in US foreign policy, prioritising unilateral action and selective engagement over traditional multilateral cooperation.
