The Trump administration just executed the largest withdrawal from international organizations in modern American history, pulling the United States out of 66 global bodies in a single sweeping directive that fundamentally reshapes America’s role on the world stage.
Story Highlights
- Presidential memorandum orders immediate withdrawal from 66 international organizations including major climate bodies
- Targets include UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- Move follows comprehensive State Department review of all international commitments launched in 2025
- Administration frames withdrawals as ending support for “globalist” agendas that undermine American sovereignty
The America First Doctrine Goes Global
President Trump signed the withdrawal directive on January 7, 2026, instructing all federal agencies to cease participation in organizations deemed “contrary to the interests of the United States.” The list spans 35 non-UN organizations and 31 UN entities, covering everything from climate cooperation to counterterrorism partnerships. This represents the culmination of a systematic review process that began with Executive Order 14199 in February 2025.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the comprehensive review, characterized many of these organizations as “anti-American, useless, or wasteful.” The administration argues these withdrawals will save taxpayer money while restoring American sovereignty from what they term “globalist bureaucrats” who advance agendas hostile to U.S. interests.
Climate Cooperation Takes the Biggest Hit
The most consequential withdrawals target the backbone of international climate governance. The U.S. exit from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change strikes at the legal foundation underlying the Paris Agreement, while leaving the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change eliminates American influence over global climate science assessments that shape worldwide policy.
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called the move a “colossal own goal,” warning that while other nations step forward together, this decision “can only harm the U.S. economy, jobs and living standards.” The withdrawal effectively cedes climate leadership to China and the European Union at a time when extreme weather events continue mounting economic costs across America.
The Sovereignty vs Influence Trade-Off
The withdrawals reflect a fundamental philosophical shift in how America engages the world. Rather than working within international frameworks to shape outcomes, the Trump administration prioritizes complete autonomy over global influence. This approach satisfies conservative voters who view multilateral institutions as constraints on American decision-making, but it abandons decades of U.S. leadership in building the international order.
Critics argue this creates a strategic vacuum other powers will eagerly fill. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the decision as “surrendering America’s leadership on the world stage” and warned it weakens U.S. competitiveness while China exploits the opportunity. The move particularly stings allies who have relied on American leadership in addressing transnational challenges from terrorism to environmental degradation.
What Comes Next
Federal agencies now face the complex task of implementing these withdrawals, which involves everything from formal treaty exit notifications to cutting funding streams. The process will unfold over months or years, depending on each organization’s governing documents and any congressional requirements for treaty modifications.
The administration signals this is just the beginning. The State Department review remains “ongoing,” suggesting additional organizations may face the chopping block. This systematic approach to multilateral disengagement represents perhaps the most dramatic peacetime shift in American foreign policy since World War II, with consequences that will ripple through international relations for years to come.
Sources:
White House Presidential Actions – Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations
Lawfare – Trump Orders U.S. Withdrawal from International Organizations and Treaties
State Department – Withdrawal from Wasteful, Ineffective, or Harmful International Organizations
