The United States has announced a sweeping withdrawal from 66 international organizations, a decision that reflects a growing push to prioritize national interests over global commitments.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the move comes after a detailed review of international bodies by the Trump Administration, which concluded that many of these institutions have become ineffective, wasteful, or even harmful to U.S. interests.
A Statement from the Secretary of State
On January 7, 2026, Rubio issued a press statement titled “Withdrawal from Wasteful, Ineffective, or Harmful International Organisations.”
He explained that the decision was guided by Executive Order 14199, signed by President Donald Trump.
“Today, the President announced the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations identified as part of the administration’s review,” Rubio said.
He also noted that the evaluation process is ongoing, signaling that more organizations could face scrutiny in the future.
Why the U.S. Is Withdrawing
Rubio emphasized that the review found these organizations no longer serve the interests of the American people.
He said many of them are redundant, poorly managed, misaligned with U.S. priorities, or even threaten national sovereignty.
“These institutions have drifted away from their original missions,” Rubio explained.
“Many now push agendas that do not align with our national priorities, from DEI mandates and gender campaigns to climate orthodoxy.”
The Secretary of State made it clear that the U.S. will no longer pour taxpayer dollars into bodies that fail to deliver tangible results.
“Sending billions of American dollars to foreign organizations with little to nothing to show for it is no longer acceptable,” Rubio said.
A Shift in Global Engagement
Rubio painted a picture of what he called a global institutional system that has expanded far beyond its original purpose.
He described it as a sprawling framework often dominated by progressive ideology and disconnected from the practical interests of the United States.
He added that these organizations are supported by interconnected elite networks—the so-called “NGO-plex”—which the administration has begun dismantling through measures like the closure of USAID programs.
The underlying principle, Rubio said, is simple: the U.S. will cooperate where it benefits the nation, but it will stand firm where institutions act contrary to American interests.
The List of Organizations Affected
The government released a full list of the 66 organizations from which the U.S. will formally withdraw.
These include both non-UN organizations and UN-affiliated bodies.
Non-UN Organizations:
- 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact
- Colombo Plan Council
- Commission for Environmental Cooperation
- Education Cannot Wait
- Global Counterterrorism Forum
- International Renewable Energy Agency
- Venice Commission of the Council of Europe
(and 28 more)
UN Organizations:
- UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) – Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Western Asia branches
- UN Democracy Fund
- UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
- UN Population Fund
- UN University
(and 24 more)
Looking Ahead
Rubio concluded by underlining the administration’s guiding principle: the U.S. will reject inertia and ideology in favor of purpose and prudence.
Where cooperation serves the nation, it will engage—but where global institutions conflict with American priorities, the country will withdraw.
“We will not continue expending resources, diplomatic capital, or the legitimizing weight of our participation in institutions irrelevant to our interests,” Rubio said.
This announcement marks a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, highlighting a move toward selective engagement and a reassertion of sovereignty on the global stage.
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