US Withdraws From UNESCO
US Withdraws From UNESCO
The US has announced it will withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization. This is the Trump administration’s latest move to cut ties with international organizations.
The State Department announced the move on Tuesday, with the move being set to take effect at the end of next year. Experts claim it reflects President Trump’s mistrust of multilateralism and international institutions, especially those related to the United Nations.
The State Department cited one of the reasons for the US’s withdrawal in a memo as, “UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.” It also cited the organization’s decision to admit the State of Palestine as a member state as “Highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”
A State Department spokeswoman said Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the US
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said that continued involvement with the organization is not in the interests of the US, accusing the organization of promoting “Divisive social and cultural causes” and of maintaining an “outsized focus on the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development.”
In recent years, the US and UNESCO have had a relationship filled with instability. The United States had previously left the organization during the first Trump administration but rejoined under President Biden.
The US withdraws from UNESCO due to admission of the State of Palestine as a Member State which US sees as an “anti Israel rhetoric” pic.twitter.com/dmYK723IQS
— Olga Nesterova (@onestpress) July 22, 2025
President Trump signed an executive order in February calling for a general review of US funding and involvement in the United Nations, which includes UNESCO. At the time, White House staff secretary Will Scharf accused the organization of having an ‘anti-American bias.’
What does UNESCO do?
UNESCO is best known by the general public for designating World Heritage Sites. Since 1972, they have effectively designated 1,200 of them, including the ruins of Palmyra in Syria, Petra’s Treasury building in Jordan, and several national parks in the US.
The organization also has an ‘intangible cultural heritage’ list of humanity’s most worthy creations, like the baguette and opera singing in Italy. UNESCO also provides educational programs and promotes sex education, literacy, clean water, and women’s rights worldwide.
The United States ceased funding UNESCO in 2011 after it accepted Palestine as a full member. The move was executed due to US legislation requiring a complete cutoff of American financing to any UN agency that accepted Palestine as a member.