In a sweeping move that signals a profound shift in foreign policy, the Trump administration has formally suspended U.S. financial support to 66 international organizations through a presidential executive order signed Wednesday. The targeted entities span multiple United Nations agencies and global partnerships, with particular focus on climate, labor, and social initiatives that the administration has characterized as “woke” overreach.
The extensive list includes both UN-affiliated bodies and independent international forums such as the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation and the Global Counterterrorism Forum. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the action, stating many organizations were “redundant, poorly managed, wasteful of resources, and threatened U.S. sovereignty and prosperity.”
This withdrawal represents an acceleration of the administration’s selective approach to global engagement, following previous exits from the World Health Organization, UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA), and UN Human Rights Council. Critics describe the approach as a “my-way-or-the-highway” strategy that only embraces international cooperation when perfectly aligned with Washington’s interests.
The policy shift coincides with heightened U.S. military activities that have unsettled both allies and adversaries. Recent actions include the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and signals that the U.S. might consider acquiring Greenland. On Wednesday morning, U.S. authorities seized two Venezuelan-linked oil tankers under sanctions, part of broader efforts to control the world’s largest proven oil reserves.
Among the most significant withdrawals is from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the foundation of the Paris Climate Agreement that the U.S. previously abandoned under Trump. Climate experts and former advisors have condemned the move as “shortsighted and damaging” to global climate policy.
The disengagement extends to humanitarian efforts, including defunding the UN Population Fund, which supports global sexual and reproductive healthcare. While Republican critics had previously accused the organization of promoting forced abortions, a subsequent State Department evaluation found no evidence supporting these claims.
The administration indicates it will redirect resources to strengthen U.S. influence in strategic international institutions where competition with China is intensifying, particularly the International Telecommunication Union and International Labor Organization.
This mass withdrawal forces the UN and related bodies into significant restructuring and budget cuts while highlighting the growing divide between the U.S. and other nations on multilateral cooperation. The repercussions may fundamentally reshape global approaches to climate change, human rights, and security challenges.