The United States is once again set to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marking the third such exit in the country’s history — and the second under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, reflects the Trump administration’s continued disapproval of what it views as the agency’s support for “woke, divisive” causes that run contrary to the will of American voters.
“President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO — which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November,” said White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly in a statement to the New York Post.
Neither the White House nor UNESCO immediately confirmed the decision publicly, but officials within the Paris-based organization had reportedly been expecting it. The formal withdrawal is set to take effect at the end of December 2026.
A History of U.S. Exits
The United States’ relationship with UNESCO has been marred by political friction for decades. This upcoming exit will mark the third time Washington has distanced itself from the agency. The first occurred under the Reagan administration in 1984, when the U.S. cited mismanagement, corruption, and what it viewed as an excessive pro-Soviet bias within the agency. The U.S. remained absent for nearly two decades before rejoining in 2003 under President George W. Bush.
The second withdrawal came during Trump’s first term in office. In 2017, his administration accused UNESCO of an anti-Israel bias following the agency’s 2011 decision to admit Palestine as a full member state. That move led both the United States and Israel to halt financial contributions to the organization. The official U.S. departure took effect in 2018.
In 2023, under the Biden administration, the U.S. rejoined UNESCO after a five-year hiatus. The return was widely seen as a bid to counter growing Chinese influence within international organizations and to restore American leadership in multilateral cultural and scientific diplomacy.
Politics and Culture at the Center
However, with Trump now back in office following a fiercely contested 2024 presidential election, his administration has moved quickly to reverse many of the Biden-era reengagements with international institutions. UNESCO, it seems, is no exception.
The Trump administration earlier this year ordered a comprehensive review of the United States’ role in the agency. According to sources familiar with internal discussions, the review focused on what officials described as “politically charged” programs related to gender identity, racial equity, and climate change — areas Trump’s team often categorizes under the umbrella of “wokeness.”
White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly’s pointed language on Tuesday left little doubt about the administration’s ideological stance. “Americans voted to restore common sense,” she said. “They did not vote to fund global bureaucracies that undermine traditional values.”
Although the current UNESCO leadership has made efforts to address past concerns about neutrality and governance, Trump officials remain unconvinced. The fact that Biden facilitated America’s return to the agency in 2023 is believed to have further galvanized the Trump administration’s determination to pull out once again.
Anticipated Move
Sources within UNESCO say the agency was not blindsided by the announcement. Ever since President Trump’s reelection, officials had braced for the possibility of another U.S. exit.
“It was always expected that this administration would reassess U.S. involvement,” said a senior UNESCO official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “While we regret the decision, we remain committed to our mission and to all of our member states, including the people of the United States.”
The official added that despite the repeated withdrawals, UNESCO continues to maintain collaborative relationships with many American cities, educational institutions, and cultural bodies. “The U.S. may not be at the table in an official capacity, but our partnerships often transcend political cycles,” the official noted.
Broader Implications
The U.S. withdrawal will have both financial and symbolic ramifications. The United States has historically been one of the agency’s largest contributors, providing significant funding for global education, heritage preservation, and science programs.
Without U.S. support, several key initiatives — especially those focused on the protection of endangered cultural sites and promotion of media literacy — may face budgetary constraints. Moreover, America’s absence opens the door for rival nations, including China and Russia, to exert greater influence over the agency’s direction.
Foreign policy experts have warned that repeated withdrawals from international organizations could diminish the United States’ soft power and ability to shape global narratives, particularly in cultural diplomacy and science cooperation.
“This kind of retreat undermines American credibility and gives authoritarian states more room to redefine the rules of global engagement,” said Dr. Laura Martinez, an international relations professor at Georgetown University.
Looking Ahead
Although the formal exit won’t take effect until the end of 2026, planning and administrative adjustments within UNESCO are already underway. The U.S. Mission to UNESCO in Paris is expected to wind down its operations over the next 18 months.
Whether the United States might rejoin UNESCO in the future — again — will likely depend on the outcome of the 2028 presidential election and the prevailing political climate in Washington.
For now, however, the Trump administration appears resolute in its conviction.
“The president was elected to restore America’s sovereignty and values,” said Anna Kelly. “That includes disengaging from international bodies that no longer reflect the will of the American people.”
As debates over global cooperation, cultural identity, and national sovereignty continue to rage, the U.S. exit from UNESCO signals yet another chapter in a deeply polarized vision of America’s role in the world.
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