On 22 July, the United States announced its withdrawal from the UN’s cultural and educational agency, effective from December 2026, which marks the second time in seven years that America has exited the Paris-based organization.
The Trump administration notified the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, of its withdrawal, claiming the agency had aligned itself with “divisive cultural and social causes.”
UNESCO’s agenda not in the USA’s “national interest”
The State Department stated that remaining as part of the agency was “not in the national interest of the United States,” and criticized UNESCO’s “outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda.”
In an announcement, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also cited UNESCO’s 2011 decision to grant Palestinian territories full membership as “highly problematic” and alleged the organization has promoted “anti-Israel rhetoric”.
The announcement follows a 90-day probe, instigated by Trump in February, to gauge UNESCO’s alignment with U.S. priorities and to investigate claims that the agency is against Israel or holds antisemitic views.
A White House official told the New York Post that a number of UNESCO programs had aroused concerns. Among these there were the 2023 “Anti-Racism Toolkit” that urged member states to implement social justice policies, and the 2024 “Transforming MEN’talities” initiative, which seeks to promote gender equity by changing mindsets.
The official further criticized the agency’s classification of certain Jewish holy sites as being of Palestinian heritage and its repeated references to Israel as “an occupying power”, arguing such statements reveal a persistent pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel bias.
Rising discomfort over China’s growing influence in UNESCO was also referred to by the official who warned that Beijing, now the second-largest funder, has been leveraging its leadership roles to steer global standards in its favor.
UNESCO fights back
In a statement, UNESCO’s Audrey Azoulay described the decision as “regrettable but expected,” arguing that it contradicts “the fundamental principles of multilateralism.”
She rejected claims of bias against Israel by citing the agency’s widely respected holocaust education programs that have been endorsed by institutions such as the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Azoulay also said UNESCO had made progress in diversifying its funding base after the U.S. halted contributions in 2018, when U.S. funding accounted for 22% of the agency’s budget, whereas it now represents just 8% of its US$900 million annual budget. She stated that this shift will help to protect core programming from immediate disruption.
Global reaction
The announcement of the USA’s departure from UNESCO sparked rapid and strongly contrasting reactions. China’s Foreign Ministry, through spokesman Guo Jiakun, criticized the U.S. exit as being inappropriate for a leading nation and reaffirmed China’s strong commitment to UNESCO.
France, UNESCO’s host country and a founding member, expressed regret, with President Emmanuel Macron pledging “unwavering support” for the organization.
Israel welcomed the decision with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar expressing gratitude to the United States for what he called “moral support,” while criticizing UNESCO for what he described as a long-standing and unfair stance against Israel.
A look back
The U.S. has a long history of fluctuating engagement with UNESCO. The U.S. first disengaged from the agency in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan, who cited frustrations over governance issues and what was seen as an unfavorable stance toward Western nations.
It rejoined in 2003 under President George W. Bush after the agency undertook reforms, but froze U.S. funding in 2011 during the Barack Obama administration after Palestine’s admission to UNESCO.
The recently announced withdrawal is the second time Trump has severed ties with the agency. During his first term in 2017, the U.S. withdrew over similar concerns about alleged anti-Israel bias. The Joe Biden administration rejoined in 2023, paying $US619 million in back dues in a strategic move to counter China’s growing influence within the organization.
In addition to UNESCO, the Trump administration has withdrawn from several other multilateral organizations, including the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organization, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, all under the banner of protecting U.S. national interests.
