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US pulls out of 66 international groups, targeting climate efforts
President Donald Trump has formally withdrawn the United States from 66 international organizations, nearly half of them United Nations agencies, including key bodies combating climate change. The decision, announced Wednesday, reflects the administration's view that these entities no longer align with American interests and instead promote what it calls "globalist" or "hostile" agendas.
Climate and UN agencies among those cut
The list includes the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the foundational treaty underpinning global efforts to address rising temperatures. Also removed was the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading scientific body assessing climate risks worldwide.
Other UN-affiliated groups affected span peacebuilding, democracy promotion, family planning, maternal and child health, and initiatives addressing sexual violence in conflict zones. The White House described these organizations as vehicles for "ineffective or hostile" policies that undermine U.S. sovereignty and economic strength.
White House defends move as cost-saving measure
A White House statement framed the withdrawals as a necessary step to end "American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities." The decision follows a review initiated to identify programs deemed "a waste of taxpayer dollars."
The administration has previously criticized multilateral climate efforts, with Trump repeatedly dismissing the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming as a "hoax." Last year, the U.S. formally exited the Paris Agreement, the landmark climate accord, and opted not to send a delegation to the COP30 summit in Brazil.
Legal and diplomatic fallout expected
While the U.S. Constitution grants presidents the authority to enter treaties with Senate approval, it does not explicitly outline the process for withdrawal. Legal experts suggest Trump's move could face challenges in court, particularly if lawmakers argue the decision oversteps executive authority.
Critics have condemned the withdrawals as a blow to global cooperation. Rachel Cleetus, policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, called the decision a "new low," accusing the administration of prioritizing an "authoritarian, anti-science" agenda over public health and international stability.
Broader pattern of disengagement
The withdrawals align with Trump's broader skepticism of multilateral institutions. His administration has previously slashed funding to organizations it views as misaligned with U.S. interests, including the World Health Organization and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Analysts warn the latest move could further isolate the U.S. on the global stage, particularly as other nations ramp up efforts to address climate change and other transnational challenges.
