US President Donald Trump has signed a memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organizations. The decision was officially announced by the White House on Wednesday, January 7, through its account on the social media platform X.
According to the memorandum, the United States will exit 31 organizations operating under the umbrella of the United Nations, as well as 35 international bodies outside the UN system. The White House stated that these organizations no longer serve the national interests of the United States.
A full list of the organizations affected has been published on the official White House website. Among them are the Ukrainian Science and Technology Center, established to support the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; the Venice Commission; the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Violence Against Children; the UN Democracy Fund; and several other international entities.
In a statement addressing the decision, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration had determined that the organizations in question were “wasteful, ineffective, and harmful.” He added that many were poorly managed, redundant, or posed a threat to US national sovereignty, freedoms, and overall prosperity.
The White House emphasized that the move reflects a broader reassessment of US international commitments, with the administration seeking to focus engagement on institutions and partnerships that directly align with American interests.