Overview

• The United States notified UNESCO of its intention to withdraw effective December 31, 2026, and will retain full membership until that date.
• The administration faulted UNESCO for endorsing “woke, divisive” cultural initiatives and for fostering anti-Israel rhetoric, particularly after admitting Palestine as a member state.
• President Trump initiated a 90-day review in February to assess whether UNESCO displayed anti-Semitic or anti-Israel bias, leading to the withdrawal recommendation.
• This will be the third time the United States has quit UNESCO and the second such exit under President Trump, with previous departures in 1984 and 2017 and reentries in 2003 and 2023.
• UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay called the decision regrettable yet expected, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the move as promoting fairness for Israel within the UN system.