On February 4, 2025, Trump signed executive order 14199, which stopped US support and funding from 31 UN entities and 35 international organizations. According to the State Department, many of these organizations were “redundant, mismanaged, and a threat to US sovereignty.” The US remains a member of the ITU, IMO, and ILO. In these bodies, the US and China have been competing for more power and influence. The US is also currently reviewing which treaties to continue being a part of, due to the executive order 14199.
According to the executive order, the “Secretary of State shall provide additional guidance as needed to agencies when implementing this memorandum.” If any agencies have questions or need clarification, the Secretary of State would need to address them. This doesn’t change the power government agencies already have, and can’t be carried out if it conflicts with any law passed by Congress or requires spending money Congress has not approved. Additionally, Executive Order 14199 doesn’t grant any new legal rights and cannot be used as the framework for a lawsuit against the government. Finally, the “Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.”
Some major withdrawals or reduction in participation include the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Paris Climate Agreement. These withdrawals could lead to weakening America’s influence on global climate change initiatives. For example, this reduces the US ability to shape global climate rules, standards, and reporting systems. Although the US can still make their own policies on climate change, international rules will reflect more on the interests of other countries. Additionally, another major consequence is the US has limited access to shared global data, assessments, and early-warning analyses used for planning infrastructure, managing risks, and assessing long-term economic impacts all related to climate change. Finally, the US withdrawing from these organizations makes the US a less reliable international partner. In the future, international governments could be less trustworthy of the US due to its track record of them pulling out of organizations and its current “America First” policy.
Summary
Trump has recently signed an executive order, withdrawing from many UN bodies, international organizations, and international treaties
This is because these organizations were contrary to US interests
The withdrawals could cause the US to lose a lot of influence on the world stage, and weaken itself as a reliable foreign partner.
House, White. “Withdrawal from Wasteful, Ineffective, or Harmful International Organizations - United States Department of State.” United States Department of State, 8 Jan. 2026, www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/01/withdrawal-from-wasteful-ineffective-or-harmful-international-organizations.
---. “Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties That Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States.” The White House, 7 Jan. 2026, www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-international-organizations-conventions-and-treaties-that-are-contrary-to-the-interests-of-the-united-states/.
News, Ground. “US Will Exit Dozens of International Organizations as It Further Retreats from Global Cooperation.” Ground News, 8 Jan. 2026, ground.news/article/us-will-exit-dozens-of-international-organizations-as-it-further-retreats-from-global-cooperation_87ad4c. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.