United States Announces Third Withdrawal from UNESCO Amidst Renewed Concerns

WASHINGTON D.C. – July 23, 2025 – The United States government today announced its decision to once again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marking the third such departure in the agency’s history and the second under a Trump administration. The move comes just two years after the U.S. had rejoined the Paris-based body, underscoring a persistent tension in the nation’s engagement with multilateral institutions.

The State Department, in its official statement, cited what it described as UNESCO’s continued “anti-Israel bias” and a broader perception that its involvement is “not in the national interest of the United States.” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce further elaborated that the withdrawal was linked to UNESCO’s perceived agenda to “advance divisive social and cultural causes,” specifically referencing the organization’s 2011 decision to admit the “State of Palestine” as a Member State, which Washington views as “highly problematic” and contributing to “the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric.”

A Recurring Departure from Global Engagement

This decision, which is set to take effect at the end of December 2026, revives a pattern of disengagement and re-engagement by the United States with UNESCO. The U.S. first withdrew in 1984 under the Reagan administration, citing mismanagement and politicization, only to rejoin in 2003 under President George W. Bush. President Donald Trump initiated a second withdrawal in 2017, effective 2018, also citing anti-Israel bias. The Biden administration reversed that decision in 2023, emphasizing the importance of U.S. leadership and countering growing Chinese influence within the organization.

White House Deputy Spokesperson Anna Kelly echoed the administration’s stance, stating that President Trump decided to withdraw from UNESCO because it “supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November.” Kelly affirmed, “This President will always put America First and ensure our country’s membership in all international organizations aligns with our national interests.”

UNESCO’s Response and Future Implications

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed “deep regret” over the U.S. decision but indicated that the organization had “prepared for it.” She denied accusations of anti-Israel bias, asserting that such claims “contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.” Azoulay highlighted the reforms undertaken by UNESCO in recent years, including diversifying funding sources, which have reduced the U.S. contribution to approximately 8% of the agency’s total budget, down from around 20% during the previous withdrawal.

The withdrawal is expected to impact UNESCO’s funding and potentially diminish U.S. influence in international efforts related to education, science, and cultural heritage, though UNESCO officials maintain they are better equipped to absorb the financial loss than in previous instances. While U.S. World Heritage Sites will retain their status, federal support for collaborative programs with UNESCO may cease, affecting American scientists, educators, and cultural heritage professionals involved in these initiatives.

This latest move signals a continued emphasis on an “America First” foreign policy approach, prioritizing perceived national interests over broad multilateral engagement, particularly in bodies where the U.S. perceives ideological misalignment or an anti-Israel agenda.