Overview
- The presidential memorandum directs agencies to cease participation and funding and to begin exiting 31 U.N. entities and 35 non‑U.N. organizations as soon as legally possible.
- Targets include the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, alongside groups such as IRENA, UN Women, UNCTAD, the International Solar Alliance and UNFPA.
- Legal scholars note constitutional ambiguity around unilateral treaty withdrawal, raising the prospect of court challenges over leaving the Senate‑ratified UNFCCC.
- Climate scientists and policy groups warn the move will hinder global emissions efforts and, if the U.S. leaves the UNFCCC, would make it the only nation outside the treaty.
- The action extends earlier U.S. pullbacks from WHO, UNESCO and UNRWA funding, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio framing the exits as ending support for entities viewed as mismanaged or contrary to U.S. interests.