President Donald Trump has issued a memorandum withdrawing the US from international organizations, conventions, and treaties “that are contrary to the interests of the United States.” The memorandum lists 35 non-UN organizations and “hybrid threats” and 31 UN agencies.
Dated 7 January 2026, the memorandum references Executive Order 14199 of 4 February 2025, which directed the Secretary of State, in consultation with the US Representative to the UN, to conduct a review to determine which organizations, conventions, and treaties the US is party to are contrary to its interests.
Based on that review, the memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies “to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawal” of the US from the listed organizations as soon as possible. It notes that for the UN, withdrawal means ceasing participation in and funding for UN entities.
In initial reactions to the US’ announcement, many affected entities expressed their disappointment with this decision.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres regretted the US’ announcement, underscoring that assessed contributions to the UN regular peacekeeping budgets “are a legal obligation under the UN Charter for all Member States, including the United States.” He said the UN “will continue to carry out [its] mandates with determination.”
Pursuant to the memorandum, the US is withdrawing from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and from four of the five UN regional commissions. According to the memorandum, it will remain a member of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Following its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2025, the US will now also depart from the UNFCCC. On 8 January, the US Department of the Treasury announced the US’ subsequent withdrawal from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) – the world’s largest climate fund.
In a statement, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said “this… step back from global leadership, climate cooperation and science can only harm the US economy, jobs and living standards.” “The doors remain open for the US to reenter in the future,” he noted, urging American investors and businesses to seize the commercial opportunity offered by “clean energy, climate resilience, and advanced electrotech.”
By the memorandum, the US is also withdrawing from, inter alia:
- Two science-policy entities (the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES));
- Several organizations and partnerships focused on environmental protection and sustainable development, including the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA);
- Several UN-wide coordination mechanisms, including UN-Energy, UN-Oceans, and UN-Water;
- Several trade-related entities, including the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ICT), and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO);
- Several research and education entities, including the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the UN University (UNU), the UN System Staff College, and Education Cannot Wait;
- Several entities focused on gender, including UN Women and the UN Population Fund (UNFP); and
- Several agencies with mandates spanning peace, law, and justice, including the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund, the International Law Commission (ILC), and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
The memorandum further states that the President’s “review of further findings of the Secretary of State remains ongoing.” [Presidential Memorandum Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States]