The memorandum explained that the Secretary of State presented detailed findings that were subsequently examined by the president in consultation with members of his Cabinet before a final decision was reached.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the United States to pull out of 66 international organizations, comprising 35 bodies outside the United Nations system and 31 UN-affiliated entities.
The directive, titled “Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies” and released on the White House website, states that continued U.S. membership and involvement in the listed organizations no longer aligns with American national interests.
The action followed an extensive review mandated under Executive Order 14199, which President Trump signed on February 4, 2025. That order instructed the Secretary of State to conduct a full assessment of U.S. participation in all international intergovernmental organizations, treaties, and conventions that receive funding or other forms of support from the United States.
As outlined in the memorandum, the Secretary of State submitted the results of the review to the president, after which the findings were discussed with the Cabinet prior to making a final determination.
“After consulting with my Cabinet, I have concluded that it is against the interests of the United States to continue membership, participation, or support for the organizations identified,” President Trump stated in the document.
Under the memorandum, all executive departments and agencies are directed to take immediate action to begin the withdrawal process, subject to applicable legal requirements. In the case of United Nations bodies, the directive calls for the suspension of participation or financial contributions to the maximum extent permitted by law.
The non-UN organizations affected by the decision cover a broad spectrum of policy areas, including climate and environmental initiatives, energy cooperation, democracy and governance, cultural heritage, cybersecurity, and regional development. Notable groups on the list include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the Freedom Online Coalition.
The order also applies to a number of regional and security-focused institutions, such as the Global Counterterrorism Forum, the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia.
With respect to the United Nations, the memorandum directs the United States to halt participation in or funding for several UN departments, commissions, and programs. These include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, UN Women, the UN Population Fund, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and various offices dedicated to human rights, peacebuilding, and development initiatives.
Additional UN entities affected include the International Law Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund, UN Water, UN Oceans, and the UN University system.
The memorandum makes clear that the review process is not yet complete and indicates that further withdrawals from international organizations or agreements remain possible. “My review of additional findings from the Secretary of State is ongoing,” President Trump wrote.
Implementation of the directive will be overseen by the State Department, which has been authorized to issue supplementary guidance to federal agencies as necessary. The document also specifies that the memorandum does not supersede existing legal authorities or budgetary controls, nor does it create enforceable legal rights for any individual or organization.
The move represents one of the most extensive withdrawals from international institutions by the United States in recent history and underscores the Trump administration’s renewed “America First” foreign policy posture, emphasizing national sovereignty, reduced expenditures, and a reassessment of multilateral engagements.
The Secretary of State has been instructed to formally publish the memorandum in the Federal Register.