The United States has formally announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), marking the second time the U.S. has exited the agency under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump.

The decision was revealed Monday by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, who said the move follows an internal review of U.S. involvement in international organizations. The administration concluded that continued participation in UNESCO does not serve U.S. strategic or cultural interests.

“UNESCO has increasingly advanced divisive social and cultural causes that conflict with American values and foreign policy,” Bruce said. “Its persistent bias against Israel and the admission of the ‘State of Palestine’ as a member state have created an unacceptable platform for anti-Israel rhetoric.”

This latest withdrawal comes just two years after the U.S. rejoined UNESCO in 2023, following its earlier departure in 2018 also under President Trump citing similar concerns. The Biden administration had re-entered the agency in an attempt to restore U.S. global leadership in cultural diplomacy and education, but the Trump administration has reversed course, calling the re-engagement “misguided and counterproductive.”

Background and Context

UNESCO, headquartered in Paris, is responsible for coordinating international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. The organization is known for designating World Heritage sites and supporting educational development, particularly in low-income countries.

However, the U.S. has long expressed frustration with UNESCO’s policies toward Israel. In 2011, the Obama administration froze funding to the agency after it voted to admit Palestine as a full member. That decision led to significant financial strain within the organization, given the U.S. was one of its largest donors.

In her remarks, Bruce underscored that “the United States will continue to support education and cultural initiatives through other bilateral and multilateral channels that reflect American priorities and values.”

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed regret at the decision, urging the U.S. to reconsider and affirming the agency’s mission to foster dialogue and mutual understanding.

International Reaction

The move is likely to further strain U.S. relations with certain European and Middle Eastern partners who view UNESCO as a vital platform for promoting intercultural peace. Meanwhile, Israeli officials welcomed the decision, calling it a “principled stand against institutional bias.”

President Trump, in a brief comment said: “UNESCO has become a politicized bureaucracy pushing globalist agendas. America leads when we stand by our allies and our values.”