Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States
This Presidential Memorandum directs all executive departments and agencies to immediately begin the process of withdrawing the United States from membership, participation in, or funding for a long list of specific non-UN and United Nations organizations, and related bodies.
This directive stems from the Secretary of State's review, completed under Executive Order 14199, which identified these groups as contrary to the interests of the United States, with the Secretary of State tasked to provide further implementation guidance.
Arguments For
The action maintains fidelity to the President's constitutional and legal authority to conduct foreign relations and manage executive branch operations.
Withdrawal supports the stated goal of ensuring that all international engagements align explicitly with the national interests of the United States, as determined by the executive branch review.
Implementation allows for immediate cessation of financial support and participation in organizations deemed detrimental or non-beneficial to U.S. policy goals.
It follows a mandated review process (Executive Order 14199) conducted by the Secretary of State, providing an administrative basis for the decision.
Arguments Against
Withdrawal from multilateral bodies creates potential gaps in international cooperation on critical shared issues like climate change, public health, and global security.
The broad list of withdrawn entities may disrupt established diplomatic channels and technical collaborations across environmental, scientific, and development sectors.
Premature disengagement could cede influence or leadership roles within these organizations to geopolitical rivals.
The immediate directive requires agencies to act quickly, which might present logistical or administrative challenges depending on statutory obligations or ongoing treaty commitments.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
This text identifies the intended recipients of the directive: the leaders of all executive departments and agencies within the Federal Government.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct:
The President invokes their constitutional and legal power to issue mandatory instructions to the executive branch.
Section 1. Purpose. (a) On February 4, 2025, I issued Executive Order 14199 (Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations). That Executive Order directed the Secretary of State, in consultation with the United States Representative to the United Nations, to conduct a review of all international intergovernmental organizations of which the United States is a member and provides any type of funding or other support, and all conventions and treaties to which the United States is a party, to determine which organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States. The Secretary of State has reported his findings as required by Executive Order 14199.
This section establishes the reason for the memorandum, referencing a previous Executive Order (E.O. 14199) from February 4, 2025.
That order required the Secretary of State to review all international organizations and treaties the U.S. belongs to or funds to see if they oppose U.S. interests.
The Secretary of State has now delivered the results of that mandated review.
(b) I have considered the Secretary of State’s report and, after deliberating with my Cabinet, have determined that it is contrary to the interests of the United States to remain a member of, participate in, or otherwise provide support to the organizations listed in section 2 of this memorandum.
The President states that after reviewing the report and consulting with the Cabinet, a decision was made.
The President determined it is against U.S. interests to continue membership, participation, or support for the specific organizations detailed in Section 2 of this document.
(c) Consistent with Executive Order 14199 and pursuant to the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct all executive departments and agencies (agencies) to take immediate steps to effectuate the withdrawal of the United States from the organizations listed in section 2 of this memorandum as soon as possible. For United Nations entities, withdrawal means ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law.
Based on the legal authority vested in the presidency and in line with the earlier Executive Order, all executive agencies must immediately move to withdraw U.S. affiliation from the listed organizations.
For any listed United Nations bodies, 'withdrawal' specifically requires stopping participation and funding, within the bounds of existing law.
(d) My review of further findings of the Secretary of State remains ongoing.
The President notes that the process of reviewing additional findings from the Secretary of State concerning other international engagements—not detailed here—is still in progress.
Sec. 2. Organizations from Which the United States Shall Withdraw. (a) Non-United Nations Organizations:
Section 2 identifies the specific international groups subject to withdrawal, starting with those organizations that are not part of the United Nations system.
(i) 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact; (ii) Colombo Plan Council; (iii) Commission for Environmental Cooperation; (iv) Education Cannot Wait; (v) European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats; (vi) Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories; (vii) Freedom Online Coalition; (viii) Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund; (ix) Global Counterterrorism Forum; (x) Global Forum on Cyber Expertise; (xi) Global Forum on Migration and Development; (xii) Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research; (xiii) Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development; (xiv) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; (xv) Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; (xvi) International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property; (xvii) International Cotton Advisory Committee; (xviii) International Development Law Organization; (xix) International Energy Forum; (xx) International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies; (xxi) International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance; (xxii) International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law; (xxiii) International Lead and Zinc Study Group; (xxiv) International Renewable Energy Agency; (xxv) International Solar Alliance; (xxvi) International Tropical Timber Organization; (xxvii) International Union for Conservation of Nature; (xxviii) Pan American Institute of Geography and History; (xxix) Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation; (xxx) Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia; (xxxi) Regional Cooperation Council; (xxxii) Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century; (xxxiii) Science and Technology Center in Ukraine; (xxxiv) Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; and (xxxv) Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.
This subsection lists 35 specific non-UN organizations from which the U.S. must withdraw.
These organizations cover diverse areas including energy, environmental cooperation, counter-terrorism, migration, research, and cultural preservation.
Examples include intergovernmental bodies on climate, biodiversity, and renewable energy.
(b) United Nations (UN) Organizations: (i) Department of Economic and Social Affairs; (ii) UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) —Economic Commission for Africa; (iii) ECOSOC —Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean; (iv) ECOSOC —Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; (v) ECOSOC —Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia; (vi) International Law Commission; (vii) International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals; (viii) International Trade Centre; (ix) Office of the Special Adviser on Africa; (x) Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict; (xi) Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict; (xii) Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children; (xiii) Peacebuilding Commission; (xiv) Peacebuilding Fund; (xv) Permanent Forum on People of African Descent; (xvi) UN Alliance of Civilizations; (xvii) UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries; (xviii) UN Conference on Trade and Development; (xix) UN Democracy Fund; (xx) UN Energy; (xxi) UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women; (xxii) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change; (xxiii) UN Human Settlements Programme; (xxiv) UN Institute for Training and Research; (xxv) UN Oceans; (xxvi) UN Population Fund; (xxvii) UN Register of Conventional Arms; (xxviii) UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination; (xxix) UN System Staff College; (xxx) UN Water; and (xxxi) UN University.
This subsection lists 31 specific organizations or components within the United Nations system that the U.S. must cease engagement with or funding for.
These entities deal with issues ranging from economic commissions (like those for Africa and Asia) to gender equality, climate change frameworks, human settlements, and peacebuilding efforts.
Sec. 3. Implementation Guidance. The Secretary of State shall provide additional guidance as needed to agencies when implementing this memorandum.
This section delegates authority to the Secretary of State to issue any further necessary instructions or clarifications to the executive agencies responsible for carrying out the withdrawals mandated by this memorandum.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
Section 4 sets general rules to clarify the memorandum's effect.
Subsection (a) ensures that this directive does not override any existing legal authority held by any department or agency head, nor does it interfere with the authority of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerning the budget or legislative strategy.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
The execution of this memorandum must comply with all relevant existing laws and is conditional upon Congress making the necessary funds available through appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This clause clarifies that the memorandum is an internal governance tool for the executive branch, meaning it does not grant any enforceable legal rights or benefits to private parties or any person challenging the United States.
(d) The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
The Secretary of State receives the authorization and instruction to officially publish this directive in the Federal Register, which serves as the official public record document for U.S. Federal administrative actions.
DONALD J. TRUMP
The document is signed by President Donald J. Trump.