US Withdraws from UNESCO, Cites Misalignment with American Interests

The United States has formally announced its decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective December 31, 2026.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that the US communicated its decision to the UN agency, citing non-alignment with America’s interests.

“UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy,” Bruce said.

This move marks the third time the US has withdrawn from UNESCO, following previous withdrawals in 1984 and 2017.

The decision is largely driven by the organization’s admission of the “State of Palestine” as a member state, which the US views as contrary to its policy and a contributor to anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.

“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,” Bruce added.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed “deep regret” over the US pullout, emphasizing that the decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism.

“This decision contradicts the fundamental principles of multilateralism,” Azoulay said, noting that the organization’s financial reforms and diversification of funding sources have mitigated the impact of the US withdrawal.

Azoulay also highlighted UNESCO’s achievements in combating Holocaust denial and antisemitism, artificial intelligence ethics, and rebuilding heritage sites in conflict zones.

The US withdrawal from UNESCO is part of a broader trend of the country distancing itself from international organizations under the “America First” foreign policy.

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).