The United States’ recent decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has created shockwaves. This final decision will be implemented starting in December 2026. Last week, the U.S. State Department made an important one. This is the third time the country has left the international agency responsible for education, science, culture and communication.
The U.S. has been a leader in Unesco since its inception, usually contributing around 8% of the organization’s overall budget. Under the Trump administration, the U.S. withdrew from Unesco entirely, beginning that process in late 2017. To justify this move, officials pointed to claims of anti-Israel bias and the failure of the NGO to reform itself. With much fanfare, in 2023 the Biden administration rejoined UNESCO. During the campaign, they promised to focus on countering Chinese influence and pledged to support regional educational initiatives around the world.
Despite these efforts, the recent announcement reflects ongoing tensions surrounding international institutions. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said the departure, which had been announced in advance, was “confounding,” adding that UNESCO had taken measures to weather the withdrawal.
“However regrettable, this announcement was anticipated and Unesco has prepared for it.” – Audrey Azoulay
The U.S. has long had a rocky relationship with Unesco. The country played a key role in founding the organization in 1945, joining as one of its original members. It pulled out in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan due to fears that the organization had become politicized and prejudiced against certain countries. The U.S. rejoined in 2003 during the administration of President George W. Bush and remained a member up until Trump’s exit in 2017.
The Trump administration’s rationale for exiting was “mounting arrears.” They contended that significant reform was needed and pointed to the persistent anti-Israel prejudice at the core of UNESCO. At that time, officials said that UNESCO had “proved inability or unwillingness to reform itself.” They called the org out for having an “outsized focus” on the UN’s globalist agenda that they said opposed the traditional conservative American values.
The recent withdrawal certainly presents unique challenges for Unesco. It undermines their work in teaching tolerance, fostering cross-cultural engagement, and promoting community efforts to counteract hate speech. When the U.S. rejoined the organization under Biden, it agreed to pay roughly $619 million in back dues. The ripple effects of this decision further emphasizes the support, likely in the billions of dollars, that will now be lost.
Trump’s administration criticized Unesco for allegedly supporting what they termed “woke, divisive cultural and social causes.” Anna Kelly, spokeswoman for the ex-President, went hard on the offensive. She announced that the organization’s actions directly contradict the commonsense reforms that Americans voted for last November.
Tammy Bruce, a prominent conservative political commentator, amplified these feelings. She claimed that Unesco’s emphasis on social issues deviates from U.S. interests.
“Unesco works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s sustainable development goals.” – Tammy Bruce
The Biden administration sees re-engagement with Unesco as key in countering China’s expanding influence on educational frameworks worldwide. This view highlights the importance of engaging deeply in multilateral institutions to defend democratic principles and increase access to quality education.