He President Donald Trump’s government He announced on Tuesday the withdrawal of the United States of the United Nations Educational, Science and Culture (UNESCO), something that will be effective at the end of December 2026.
“Today, the United States informed the general director, Audrey Azoulay, about her decision to withdraw from UNESCO. Continue participating in UNESCO does not result in the US national interest,” said the spokeswoman for the State Department, Tammy Bruce, in a release.
Statement by the director-general of @Unesco, @AazouyFollowing The Decision of the United States to Withdraw from the Organization.
Read more: https://t.co/ybrpkgmp3o pic.twitter.com/HQP0BQKQJY
– UNESCO ️ #EDUCATION #SCIENCES #culture (@unesco) July 22, 2025
“UNESCO’s decision to admit to the ‘State of Palestine’ as a member state is extremely problematic, contrary to US policy and contributed to the proliferation of antiisraeli rhetoric within the organization,” insists communication.
UNESCO general director Audrey Azoulay, lamented “deeply” the decision.
“UNESCO has prepared for it”
“This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism and could affect, in the first place, our numerous partners in the United States: communities that seek the registration of sites in the World Heritage list, the condition of creative city and university chairs,” says the Azoulay message. .
The note adds that although it is unfortunate news, UNESCO has prepared for it, undertaking “important structural reforms and diversified our sources of financing”.
“Thanks to the efforts made by the organization since 2018, the decreasing trend of the US financial contribution has been compensated, so that it now represents 8% of the total budget of the organization, compared to 40% of some United Nations entities; at the same time, the UNESCO General Budget has constantly increased,” the statement points out.
Today, The United States Announced Our Decision to withdraw from Unesco. Like Many an organization, Unesco Strayed from its Founding Mission. Going Forward, US Participation in International Organizations Must Make America Safer, Stronger, and More Prosperous.
– Tammy Bruce (@statedeptspox) July 22, 2025
Today, the organization has better financial protection, thanks to the constant support of a large number of private states and private taxpayers. These voluntary contributions have doubled since 2018, he points out.
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During his first presidency, Trump also ordered the United States withdrawal from UNESCO. His successor Joe Biden (2021-2025) later restored the United States membership.
Bruce described UNESCO as an entity that “promotes divisive social and cultural causes” and that focuses excessively on the UN sustainability objectives, which described as a “globalist ideological agenda.”
According to the state department spokeswoman, from this moment on, Washington’s participation in international organizations will focus on promoting US interests with clarity and conviction.
Trump was not the first to withdraw the United States from UNESCO. In the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan ended the members of the United States, stating that the agency was corrupt and prosal.
