The United States has once again announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with the move set to take effect on December 31, 2026.
This latest exit marks the fourth UN agency the U.S. is distancing itself from in just seven months under the renewed administration of President Donald Trump.
Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, confirmed the decision on Tuesday.
She explained that the Trump administration believes UNESCO’s priorities—especially its focus on divisive social and cultural issues and its alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals—no longer reflect America’s “national interest” approach.
One of the key reasons for the withdrawal, according to the U.S., is UNESCO’s continued recognition of Palestine as a full member state—an issue Washington sees as anti-Israel.
Despite the announcement, the U.S. will remain a full member of the agency until the withdrawal becomes official in 2026.
This move follows earlier exits from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in February, and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) shortly after.
Critics fear that these rapid withdrawals are signaling a broader U.S. retreat from multilateral diplomacy.
International observers, including those in Nigeria and other developing nations, have raised concerns about the ripple effects of America’s disengagement from global institutions.
The United States has historically been the largest donor to many of these agencies.
Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) shows that the U.S. contributed nearly 47 percent of global humanitarian funding last year.
President Trump, however, insists the withdrawals are in line with his “America First” policy.
He maintains that foreign aid and global contributions have become a “drainpipe” for U.S. taxpayers and vowed to reduce America’s financial footprint on the global stage.
China, reacting swiftly to the U.S. decision, criticized the move as irresponsible. Foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Wednesday said, “This is not the action of a responsible major country.”
He reminded the world that this is the third time the U.S. has pulled out of UNESCO and noted that it has long defaulted on membership dues.
China called on nations to remain committed to multilateralism and support the international system with the United Nations at its core.
As China steps up its global engagement, it is positioning itself as a reliable partner to fill the vacuum left by Washington.
As developing countries like Nigeria continue to rely on UNESCO and similar bodies for educational, cultural, and humanitarian support, many are left to wonder how the changing global alliances will shape the future of international cooperation.