UNITED STATES TO EXIT UNESCO AGAIN UNDER TRUMP

The United States is set to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for a second time under President Donald Trump, as part of a broader reassessment of U.S. participation in international institutions.

UNESCO, headquartered in Paris, was founded in the aftermath of World War II to promote global peace through education, science, and culture. The U.S. had rejoined in 2003 after a nearly two-decade absence, but Trump pulled the country out again during his first term in 2017, citing bias and mismanagement.

President Joe Biden reversed that decision in 2021, restoring U.S. membership. Now, with Trump’s return to office, his administration has not only confirmed plans to leave UNESCO once more but has also begun the process of exiting the World Health Organization and suspending funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

While the U.S. once contributed up to 20% of UNESCO’s total budget, it now represents about 8%—a substantial sum nonetheless, especially as the agency oversees World Heritage Site designations and global educational initiatives.

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