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February 4, 2025 Withdrawing The United States From And Ending Funding To Certain United Nations Organizations And Reviewing United States Support To All International Organizations - Executive Order

The executive order directs a reevaluation of U.S. participation in and funding of certain United Nations (UN) organizations that have been criticized for actions perceived as inconsistent with U.S. interests. Specifically, it focuses on:

  • The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) – The administration cites concerns that the council has allowed human rights violators to avoid scrutiny.

  • The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – The order calls for a review of U.S. membership, citing concerns over financial issues and alleged anti-Israel bias.

  • The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) – The order points to reports that members of designated terrorist organizations have infiltrated the agency and that some employees were allegedly involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.


Key Actions:

  1. Withdrawal from UNHRC

    • The U.S. will no longer participate in or seek election to the UNHRC.

    • The office of the U.S. Representative to the UNHRC will be eliminated.

  2. Review of UNESCO Membership

    • The State Department, in coordination with the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, will complete an evaluation within 90 days on whether UNESCO aligns with U.S. interests, including its stance on Israel.

  3. Funding Restrictions

    • No U.S. funds will be allocated to UNRWA, as required by the FY 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Public Law 118-47).

    • The U.S. will withhold its proportionate share of UNHRC funding from the UN Regular Budget.

    • A broader review will be conducted within 180 days to assess all international organizations and treaties the U.S. participates in, with recommendations on whether to withdraw from any of them.

  4. Notification to the UN

    • The UN Secretary-General and leadership of UNRWA and the UNHRC will be formally informed of the funding withdrawal and that the U.S. will not pay 2025 assessments or outstanding arrears to these organizations.


Context and Implications:

  • Historical Precedent: The U.S. withdrew from the UNHRC in 2018 under similar concerns but later rejoined in 2021. The U.S. also withdrew from UNESCO in 2017, citing issues of anti-Israel bias, before rejoining in 2023.

  • Financial Impact: The U.S. has historically been one of the largest funders of UN programs. In 2022, the U.S. contributed approximately $344 million to UNRWA and $47 million to the UNHRC. The financial effects of this order will depend on how funding is redirected.

  • International Response: Previous U.S. withdrawals from UN agencies have drawn mixed reactions from allies and adversaries. Some countries have supported efforts to reform these organizations, while others argue that U.S. disengagement reduces its ability to influence international policies.


Implementation & Legal Considerations:

  • The order requires adherence to existing U.S. law and funding availability.

  • It does not create new legal rights or obligations for individuals or entities.



Writer's Note: Summary made with the use of AI tools for editing and quick processing, facts checked against the order before publishing.

 
 
 

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