The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it will once again withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), further retreating from international organizations, the Associated Press reported.
UNESCO dedicates World Heritage sites (infidelic/Flickr Creative Commons)The decision will take effect in December 2026 and was expected, although it comes only two years after the Biden administration rejoined the cutural organization following the first Trump administration’s withdrawal.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce accused UNESCO of advancing “divisive social and cultural causes,” including UNESCO’s decision in 2011 “to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a Member State.” She characterized that decision as “highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and [said it] contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.”
UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said she “deeply” regrets the US decision and denied accusations of anti-Israel bias, saying it contradicts “the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.”
What UNESCO does
UNESCO was founded after World War II in 1945 to contribute to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, science, and culture by focusing on five main program areas:
(1) Education: Promoting quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, coordinating the Education 2030 agenda (Sustainable Development), and leading initiatives like the Global Education Coalition to support education worldwide.
(2) Natural Sciences: Advancing scientific cooperation for sustainability, working to address climate change and disaster risk reduction, and supporting programs like the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) and the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).
(3) Social and Human Sciences: Fostering inclusive societies by promoting respect, tolerance, and human rights, addressing issues like racism and discrimination, and empowering youth and women.
(4) Culture: Protecting and safeguarding cultural and natural heritage around the world, including through the World Heritage program that designates and monitors sites of outstanding universal value to humanity, such as the pyramids in Egypt or Notre-Dame Cathedral in France.
(5) Communication and Information: Promoting freedom of expression, including press freedom and access to information, working to combat disinformation, and supporting the development of independent media.
In addition to these core areas, UNESCO also addresses other global priorities such as gender equality and Africa’s development across its activities. They also spearhead initiatives related to artificial intelligence ethics and the protection of biodiversity.
Various activities include
- supporting research and fostering partnerships in its areas of expertise;
- issuing public statements to educate and raise awareness on critical issues;
- designating sites and projects of cultural and scientific significance, such as World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves;
- promoting international cooperation and dialogue through events like conferences and campaigns; and
- developing and funding projects that align with its goals.
Ultimately, UNESCO aims to build peace, eradicate poverty, promote sustainable development, and facilitate intercultural dialogue through its diverse programs and initiatives.
Editorial
Turning Our Backs on UNESCO Hurts America’s Leadership
The United States has once again decided to walk away from UNESCO, the United Nations agency dedicated to fostering global cooperation in education, science, culture, and free expression. The move, announced by the Trump administration this week, comes barely two years after the US rejoined the organization under President Biden. While the withdrawal was anticipated, its consequences — for our international standing, our scientific leadership, and our cultural influence — should not be underestimated.
At its core, UNESCO exists to build bridges. From preserving world heritage sites to advancing climate science, promoting human rights, and expanding access to education, its mission speaks directly to values Americans have long claimed as our own. Leaving the table does not make these global challenges disappear; it simply means we give up our voice in shaping how they are addressed. When the United States retreats from institutions like UNESCO, we leave space for others to set the agenda. And those priorities may not reflect our democratic ideals or commitment to human rights.
Supporters of withdrawal point to UNESCO’s 2011 decision to admit Palestine as a member state, arguing that it fuels anti-Israel rhetoric. Reasonable people can debate the organization’s political decisions. But stepping away entirely, rather than working within the system to advocate for fairness and balance, is a self-defeating response. By isolating ourselves, we abandon opportunities to combat bias, push for reforms, and strengthen the very causes, including fighting antisemitism, that we claim to defend.
This is not just about diplomacy. America’s scientific, educational, and cultural influence has long been a cornerstone of our global leadership. UNESCO programs advance sustainable water management, support press freedom, and safeguard cultural treasures. When we withdraw, we send a message that these priorities no longer matter to us, that we’re willing to cede ground in areas where we once led the world. That diminishes not only UNESCO, but also the US itself.
There was a time when America was proud to be a builder of bridges, not a breaker of ties. Choosing isolation over engagement weakens our hand on the world stage and erodes the very leadership that made the US a global standard-bearer for knowledge, culture, and cooperation. The challenges UNESCO tackles will continue with or without us. The only difference is whether America will have a say in the solutions.
