President Donald Trump took a massive step toward isolationism on Wednesday. He signed a memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations and treaties.
The White House stated these entities "no longer serve American interests." The list includes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The UNFCCC has served as the bedrock for global climate efforts for 34 years. It was signed in 1992 and ratified by the U.S. Senate under George H.W. Bush.
By exiting the UNFCCC, the U.S. effectively severs ties with the entire legal framework for climate negotiations. This move goes significantly further than Trump's second withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
The memorandum also orders an exit from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This is the world’s leading scientific body for assessing climate risks and solutions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sweeping withdrawals in a statement. He claimed these organizations are "often dominated by progressive ideology and detached from national interests."
Rubio added that the era of "billions of dollars of taxpayer money flowing to foreign interests" is officially over. The administration is targeting groups that focus on climate, migration, and gender equality.
Other major organizations on the "exit list" include the International Renewable Energy Agency and UN Water. The order also pulls the U.S. out of the UN Population Fund and the International Solar Alliance.
This retrenchment follows Trump’s earlier moves to leave the World Health Organization and UNESCO. The White House is refocusing all resources on "America First" priorities.
Environmental groups and world leaders were quick to condemn the decision. They warned that the withdrawal leaves the U.S. as the only nation in the world outside the climate framework.
Critics argue that ceding leadership on the energy transition will harm the U.S. economy. They claim it allows rivals like China to dominate the burgeoning clean energy technology market.
Legal experts say the withdrawal from a Senate-ratified treaty like the UNFCCC will face court challenges. The U.S. Constitution is silent on whether a President can unilaterally scrap a ratified treaty.
Despite potential legal battles, the administration is moving to stop all funding for these groups immediately. This follows a broader pattern of dismantling multilateral commitments to reclaim U.S. sovereignty.