Overview

• President Trump notified UNESCO on July 22, 2025, that the United States will withdraw effective December 31, 2026.
• State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce and White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly blamed UNESCO’s DEI programs and perceived anti-Israel bias for the decision.
• Administration officials pointed to China’s status as UNESCO’s second-largest funder and its influence on global cultural standards.
• This marks the third US withdrawal from UNESCO following exits in 1984 and 2017 and a return under President Biden in 2023.
• US contributions, currently about 8 percent of UNESCO’s budget, will cease after the departure, potentially weakening key cultural and educational initiatives.