U.S. President Donald Trump has approved the country’s withdrawal from dozens of international organizations, according to the BBC.
The White House says the decision affects 66 international organizations, with almost half connected to the United Nations. This includes the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is a key treaty supporting global climate action.
The administration explained that the withdrawals followed a review that found these organizations no longer aligned with U.S. interests and were not a good use of taxpayer money. Officials also said the groups’ policies and programs contradict U.S. sovereignty and economic goals.
The U.S. will also withdraw from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which reviews climate research worldwide. Other organizations affected work on peacebuilding, democracy, public health, family planning and preventing sexual violence in conflict areas.
The White House has been cutting funding for international assistance programs since the start of President Trump’s second term. However, since joining international organizations requires approval from two-thirds of the Senate, withdrawing from them could pose legal challenges, as the U.S. Constitution does not clearly define the process.
