The Trump Administration announced on Tuesday that the United States will once again withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency that preserves World Heritage sites and promotes international cooperation in education, science, and culture.
The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO—which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—was expected, given that the Trump Administration has already cut ties with several other international bodies, including the World Health Organization and the U.N. Human Rights Council, and has withdrawn from global agreements such as the Paris climate accord.
President Trump had also pulled out of UNESCO in his first term, arguing that U.S. involvement was not in the national interest and that the agency promoted anti-Israel speech. The Biden Administration rejoined the agency in 2023, citing concerns that the U.S. absence had allowed China and other strategic competitors to gain influence over global standards set by the agency.
Read more: How the National Park System Is Faring Under the Trump Administration
The U.S. withdrawal will take effect at the end of 2026, and is expected to deal a significant financial and symbolic blow to the Paris-based agency that relies on contributions from member states to support initiatives ranging from heritage site preservation and Holocaust education to setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education.
Here’s what to know about UNESCO, the reasons for withdrawal, and what it means for the world heritage sites.
Why is the U.S. leaving UNESCO?
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement that the decision to withdraw from UNESCO was based on the agency’s perceived support for “divisive social and cultural causes,” claiming that its focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is part of a “globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.”
She added that UNESCO’s decision in 2011 “to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”
The Trump Administration has previously criticized U.N. institutions for what it views as bias against Israel and a failure to align with U.S. values. The White House made a similar argument in 2018, when Trump first pulled the U.S. out of UNESCO.
The U.S. has had a complicated relationship with UNESCO over the years. It was a founding member in 1945 but withdrew in 1984 under the Reagan Administration to protest alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias during the Cold War. The U.S. later rejoined in 2003 under the George W. Bush Administration, but stopped funding for the agency after it voted to include Palestine as a full member in 2011 under the Obama Administration.
Five years after Trump withdrew from UNESCO in 2018, the Biden Administration rejoined the agency in 2023 and announced plans to pay over $600 million in back dues, arguing that the U.S. absence had allowed China to fill the gap left in UNESCO policymaking—especially in shaping global standards on technology, education, and artificial intelligence.
What is UNESCO?
UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was founded after World War II to promote peace through international cooperation. Today, nearly 200 countries are members of UNESCO, along with 12 associate members.
The agency is perhaps best known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program, which recognizes 1,248 historic landmarks in 170 countries for protection, including the Taj Mal, the pyramids of Giza, and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
“World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located,” UNESCO’s website says.
However, that declaration may be at odds with the Trump Administration’s “America First” approach. In July, Trump signed an executive order increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting U.S. national parks, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. “The national parks will be about America first,” Trump said at a recent rally.
In addition to preserving cultural heritage, UNESCO says its mission is to “set standards, produce tools and develop knowledge to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and foster a world of greater equality and peace,” according to its website. “Protecting biodiversity, responding to artificial intelligence, advancing quality education, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring access to reliable information are some examples of the work that UNESCO does with its 194 Member States across the globe.”
UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S.
There are 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the United States:
Cultural sites:
Natural sites:
Mixed sites:
- Papahānaumokuākea (2010)
How will the U.S. withdrawal affect UNESCO?
The U.S. withdrawal is expected to have both financial and symbolic consequences. As one of UNESCO’s largest contributors, the U.S. plays a critical role in funding its efforts. Without that support, the agency could be forced to scale back or restructure preservation initiatives.
Past U.S. officials have also warned that stepping back could cede influence to strategic competitors, particularly in fast-developing areas like AI governance.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said in a statement Tuesday that the agency “deeply” regrets the U.S. decision to withdraw but added that the announcement was “anticipated.”
“In recent years, we have undertaken major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources,” she said. “Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the US has been offset, so that it now represents 8% of the Organization’s total budget compared to 40% for some United Nations entities; while at the same time, UNESCO’s overall budget has steadily increased.”
Azoulay also rejected accusations of an anti-Israel bias, claiming that the Trump Administration’s claim contradicts “the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.”
“The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism,” Azoulay said.
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