The United States said it would leave UN Culture and Education Agency UNESCO, accusing it of supporting “an awakening, divided cultural and social causes.”
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay described the decision as “regrettable” but “expected.”
The move is the latest step in cutting ties with international agencies after the Trump administration evacuated the United States from the World Health Organization and Paris climate agreements and cut funding for foreign relief efforts.
UNESCO has 194 member states around the world and is known for listing World Heritage sites. The U.S. decision will take effect from December 2026.
The State Department said UNESCO’s “globalism, ideological international development agenda” “runs contrary to our US First foreign policy.”
It also incorporated Palestinians into UNESCO in 2011, which is “a high degree of problem opposite to U.S. policy and has promoted the spread of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”
The claims “contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, especially in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against Semiticism,” said Audrey Azoulay, the group’s head.
She added: “This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism and may first affect many of our partners in the United States of America – communities seeking live inscriptions on World Heritage List, Creative City Status and University Chairs.”
The UNESCO chief said the agency has been preparing for Washington’s move to diversify its funding sources. Currently, UNESCO has received about 8% of its budget from the United States, she said.
In 2017, Trump withdrew the United States from UNESCO during his first presidency, but later revoked the decision under Joe Biden’s administration.
The Paris-based United Nations agency was established in November 1945 – shortly after World War II – to promote peace and security through global cooperation in education, arts, science and culture.
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