President Donald J. Trump has directed the withdrawal of the United States from dozens of international organizations, conventions, and United Nations entities, declaring that continued membership in them is contrary to U.S. national interests.
The directive was contained in a presidential memorandum dated January 7, 2026, addressed to the heads of executive departments and agencies. The memorandum follows a comprehensive review ordered under Executive Order 14199, issued on February 4, 2025, which mandated the Secretary of State to evaluate all international intergovernmental organizations and treaties to which the United States belongs or provides funding.
According to the memorandum, the Secretary of State submitted his findings after consulting with the U.S. Representative to the United Nations. President Trump said he reviewed the report and, following deliberations with his Cabinet, concluded that the United States should withdraw from a wide range of multilateral bodies.
“After deliberating with my Cabinet, I have determined that it is contrary to the interests of the United States to remain a member of, participate in, or otherwise provide support to the organizations listed,” the president stated.
The memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawals “as soon as possible.” For United Nations entities, withdrawal is defined as ceasing participation or funding to the extent permitted by U.S. law. The president also noted that further reviews by the Secretary of State are ongoing, suggesting additional actions could follow.
The list of affected non-UN organizations spans climate, energy, governance, security, and development-focused bodies. Among them are the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum. Several European, regional, and research-based institutions were also included.
The memorandum also orders withdrawal from 31 United Nations-related entities, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Women, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and multiple UN offices focused on peacebuilding, human rights, children, gender, and development issues. Several ECOSOC regional commissions and UN coordination bodies were also named.
Implementation of the directive will be overseen by the Secretary of State, who is tasked with providing further guidance to federal agencies. The memorandum emphasizes that all actions must be consistent with existing law and subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
As with previous executive actions, the document specifies that it does not create any legally enforceable rights and does not interfere with the statutory authority of federal agencies or the budgetary functions of the Office of Management and Budget.
The memorandum is to be published in the Federal Register, formally setting in motion one of the most expansive withdrawals by the United States from international and multilateral institutions in recent history.