The order affects a wide range of agencies involved in climate, labor, migration, and public health. Among the targeted bodies are the UN Population Fund, the Carbon Free Energy Compact, and the International Cotton Advisory Committee. Trump officials described the organizations as promoting “woke” agendas contrary to U.S. interests.
“The days of billions of dollars in taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests at the expense of our people are over,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. He called many of the institutions “redundant,” “wasteful,” or hostile to American sovereignty.
The withdrawal from the 1992 UN climate treaty — which underpins the Paris Agreement — leaves the U.S. as the only nation outside the global climate framework. Trump, who has repeatedly dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” previously pulled the U.S. out of the Paris accord.
Critics condemned the decision as reckless and damaging. “This decision is shortsighted, embarrassing and foolish,” said Gina McCarthy, former White House national climate adviser. “We’re giving up our ability to influence trillions of dollars in climate investments and global policy.”
Rob Jackson, chair of the Global Carbon Project, warned the move could undermine global climate efforts. “It gives other nations the excuse to delay their own actions and commitments,” he said.
“The people of the U.S. and the international community must come together to stop the Trump administration from dismantling the structures and tools we have fought for,” said Niranjali Amerasinghe, executive director of ActionAid USA.
Trump’s administration has adopted a selective, “à la carte” approach to global engagement, suspending support for WHO, UNRWA, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council. Daniel Forti of the International Crisis Group described the policy as “the crystallization of the U.S. approach to multilateralism, which is ‘my way or the highway.’”
Analysts noted the move comes amid broader escalations in U.S. foreign policy, including military actions in Venezuela and Trump’s signals about acquiring Greenland. “This is a serious break from the policies of previous Republican and Democratic administrations,” one expert noted.
The White House argues the new strategy allows the U.S. to redirect resources toward competing with China in UN technical bodies like the International Maritime Organization and the International Telecommunications Union.
The decision has already forced staffing and budget cuts at the UN and led to the shutdown of many NGO-run programs, following cuts to U.S. foreign assistance through USAID.
Despite criticism, the Trump administration signaled the withdrawals would continue. Rubio said the U.S. would prioritize institutions “aligned with our national interest — not globalist ideals.”
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Source: Rzeczpospolita, Reuters, Euronews, Associated Press