Trump administration withdraws the United States from UNESCO, cutting its budget by 8 percent

The United States has withdrawn from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)—the UN’s education, arts, sciences, and culture wing.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce announced the departure today because “involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,” a statement said, explaining the State Department’s rationale.

The statement went on to say, “UNESCO’s decision to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”

The exit will take effect on December 31, 2026. Until then, the U.S. will remain a full member of UNESCO. This denotes the third time the U.S. has exited UNESCO since it was founded in 1945.

The first instance was in 1984, a decision by President Reagan, but the U.S. rejoined UNESCO in 2003 under President Bush. President Trump then exited the U.S. from UNESCO in 2017, again for alleged “anti-Israel bias,” but the U.S. was reinstated in 2023 under President Biden.

Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said after this most recent departure she “deeply regrets” the Trump administration’s decision to again exit UNESCO.

“This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism, and may affect first and foremost our many partners in the United States of America—communities seeking site inscription on the World Heritage List, Creative City status, and University Chairs,” Azoulay said.

The U.S. funds 8 percent of UNESCO’s budget. Azoulay noted that this decision didn’t come as a surprise, however, and that steps have already been taken to insulate UNESCO from funding cuts. Azoulay also touted UNESCO’s strides in preserving culture in Iraq, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Aside from the projects Azoulay cited, UNESCO helped restore Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to name another example. It regularly inscribes ancient structures, buildings, and landscapes to its UNESCO World Heritage list, which grants sites protection.

Still, critics say that UNESCO could be doing more to protect heritage in Ukraine; Baalbek, Lebanon, an ancient city 20 miles east of Beirut; Palestine; and elsewhere.