The US government has announced that it is withdrawing from UNESCO, citing concerns over what it perceives as an anti-Israel bias and the promotion of divisive causes.
UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay expressed regret over the decision, though she noted it was not unexpected. “I deeply regret President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States once again from UNESCO,” she said. “While unfortunate, this announcement had been anticipated, and UNESCO has prepared for it.”
Trump made similar moves during his first term, pulling the United States out of the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Human Rights Council, the Paris Climate Accord, and the Iran nuclear deal. Former President Joe Biden reversed many of those decisions after taking office in 2021, rejoining UNESCO, WHO, and the climate agreement.
Now, with Trump back in office, the United States is once again stepping away from global institutions. The administration has also cut funding to the UN’s Palestinian aid agency (UNRWA) and is reviewing US involvement in other UN bodies, with results expected in August.
At the time of Trump’s previous withdrawal, the United States was contributing 20% of UNESCO’s budget; today, that figure is around 8%.