US Withdrawal from International Organizations Raises Concerns
Following the Trump administration’s choice to step back from the United Nations and numerous other international groups, experts are predicting that more organizations might soon face similar fates.
This move was part of an order from President Trump in February 2025, which called for a reassessment of U.S. support for all international organizations, affecting 66 entities in total.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented, emphasizing that the U.S. is turning away from an inefficacious model of multilateralism, one he claims treats American taxpayers as the main financial backers of global governance. He cautioned that the State Department’s review process is broad, targeting not just clear policy violators but potentially a wider range of organizations too.
Rubio insisted the U.S. isn’t abandoning the global stage, but rather contemplating a significant reform of the international framework that, in his view, is cluttered with numerous overlapping institutions and plagued by inefficiency and poor ethics.
Hugh Dugan, who held a role on the National Security Council during Trump’s initial term, commented that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has consistently misinterpreted previous directives as mere cost-cutting measures. Dugan criticized Guterres for not focusing enough on improving the UN’s return on investment, suggesting he should have sought greater efficiencies and growth instead of cutting essential components.
Since its inception in March 2025, the UN80 initiative aims to streamline the UN’s expansive bureaucracy and reduce costs. Responding to the U.S. withdrawal, Guterres’ spokesperson expressed disappointment, arguing that contributions to the UN’s budgets are a legal obligation for member states, including the U.S.
Bret Schaefer from the American Enterprise Institute noted that many impactful organizations outside the UN receive limited funding and might not merit U.S. financial support. He portrayed the U.S. withdrawal as more of a refinement process intended to reduce duplication within the UN system.
He added that these withdrawals could prompt affiliated organizations to recognize America’s desire for consolidation and efficiency in the UN framework.
Future Cuts on the Horizon
Schaefer indicated that several organizations might be next on the list for budget cuts, including the World Meteorological Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization. He pointed out that while smaller nations utilize UNDP to manage humanitarian donations, the U.S. could directly fund NGOs without the intermediary role played by UNDP, which he suggested has corruption issues.
Schaefer also referenced the UNOCHA as having strayed from its neutrality, criticizing its stance toward Israel as unsubstantiated and politically charged.
UNDP representatives maintained that the U.S. remains a crucial partner and that their projects are overseen with a strong emphasis on accountability and transparency.
Despite concerns, the UNDP asserted that past investigations found no systemic fraud related to their work in North Korea. They pledged to uphold strong oversight for any future engagements.
