Advertisement

The United States will exit UNESCO and halt all funding by December 2026, the State Department confirmed today—marking Washington’s third withdrawal from the UN agency since 1984. The decision, driven by claims of “persistent anti-Israel bias” and misaligned values, redirects $150 million in annual dues toward domestic priorities while deepening America’s retreat from multilateral institutions. With UNESCO losing its largest historical donor, global heritage protection and education initiatives face unprecedented uncertainty.

Why the US Leaves UNESCO: Decades of Discontent

The U.S. departure follows years of friction, notably after UNESCO admitted Palestine as a member in 2011—a move that triggered automatic funding suspensions under U.S. law. State Department officials cite recent decisions designating ancient Jewish sites like Hebron’s Tomb of the Patriarchs as “Palestinian heritage locations” as evidence of institutional bias. “Taxpayers shouldn’t fund organizations that undermine allies or mismanage resources,” a White House adviser told Reuters.

Financial disputes compound the rift. The U.S. contributed 22% of UNESCO’s budget before 2011 but accrued $619 million in unpaid dues during its funding freeze. Congressional Republicans argue these funds could better serve U.S. schools or infrastructure. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay lamented the withdrawal, warning in an official statement that it “weakens multilateralism” amid climate and cultural preservation crises.

Political Agendas and the “Values Mismatch”

Beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. officials criticize UNESCO’s “divisive” social initiatives. Programs promoting gender equity, racial justice, and indigenous rights reportedly conflicted with the current administration’s focus on “America First” diplomacy. A 2023 Heritage Foundation report accused UNESCO of “advancing ideological agendas,” citing curriculum reforms that challenge Western historical narratives.

This withdrawal continues a pattern:

🇺🇸 1984 : Exit citing Soviet influence and financial waste

: Exit citing Soviet influence and financial waste 🇺🇸 2003 : Rejoin under Bush to “promote democracy”

: Rejoin under Bush to “promote democracy” 🇺🇸 2017 : Quit again over anti-Israel resolutions

: Quit again over anti-Israel resolutions 🇺🇸 2023: Briefly reengage before final exit

Global Reactions and Strategic Shifts

Israel applauded the move, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz calling it a “moral stand against discrimination.” Conversely, UNESCO’s 194 member states now face a 22% budget hole. Emerging economies like India and Brazil may increase contributions, but analysts fear cuts to vital programs like:

🏛️ Preservation of endangered sites (e.g., Ukraine’s Odesa)

🌍 Climate education in developing nations

📚 Literacy initiatives across Africa

The Biden administration emphasized bilateral partnerships as alternatives. As with recent exits from the UN Human Rights Council and WHO, the U.S. will channel resources into direct agreements—prioritizing trade deals and security pacts over “bloated bureaucracies.”

Must Know

Q: How will UNESCO operate without U.S. funding?

A: UNESCO faces severe austerity. Projects may shrink, delay, or rely on private donors. Japan and Germany now fund 25% of the budget combined, but gaps remain. Emergency meetings are planned for Q1 2025.

Q: Does this impact U.S. World Heritage sites?

A: No. The Statue of Liberty or Grand Canyon retain protected status. However, U.S. influence over heritage decisions ceases, risking reduced advocacy for American nominations.

Q: Could the U.S. rejoin later?

A: Historically, yes—but unlikely soon. Reentry requires Congressional approval and settling $619M+ in arrears. With elections looming, bipartisan support is absent.

Q: What replaces UNESCO’s role for the U.S.?

A: Direct partnerships, like USAID education grants or State Department cultural treaties. Critics argue this fragments global cooperation.

The U.S. exit from UNESCO underscores a transformative shift: sovereignty-focused diplomacy now trumps multilateral engagement. As funding dries up, heritage sites and global education programs brace for instability—while America doubles down on bilateral alliances. For taxpayers and policymakers, this move demands scrutiny: does retreat strengthen influence or surrender it? Track UNESCO’s 2025 budget vote to gauge the fallout.

Sources: U.S. State Department, UNESCO Press Release, Heritage Foundation Report (2023), Reuters interviews.

The United States on Tuesday announced it has left UNESCO, saying the UN cultural and education agency, best known for establishing world heritage sites, is biased against Israel and promotes “divisive” causes.

“Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States,” the State Department spokeswoman said.

The US exit was expected under President Donald Trump, who also ordered withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2017 during his first term. President Joe Biden then reestablished US membership.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce described UNESCO as working “to advance divisive social and cultural causes” and being overly focused on UN sustainability goals, which she described as a “globalist, ideological agenda.”

Bruce also highlighted what she said was the body’s anti-Israeli position in admitting Palestine as a state.

“UNESCO’s decision to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a member state is highly problematic, contrary to US policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization,” Bruce said.

Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister on Tuesday hailed the decision by the United States, thanking Washington for its “moral support and leadership”.

“This is a necessary step, designed to promote justice and Israel’s right for fair treatment in the UN system, a right which has often been trampled due to politicisation in this arena,” Gideon Saar posted on X.

The head of UNESCO said Tuesday she regretted the US decision to withdraw from the organisation, but added the move had come as no surprise.

“I deeply regret President Donald Trump’s decision to once again withdraw the United States of America from UNESCO,” Director-General Audrey Azoulay said.

“However regrettable, this announcement was expected, and UNESCO has prepared for it”.

The UN organization describes its mission as promoting education, scientific cooperation and cultural understanding.

It oversees a list of heritage sites aimed at preserving unique environmental and architectural gems, ranging from the Great Barrier Reef off Australia and the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Athens Acropolis and Pyramids of Egypt.

Trump was not the first to pull the United States out of UNESCO.

President Ronald Reagan ended US membership in the 1980s, saying the agency was corrupt and pro-Soviet. The United States reentered under the presidency of George W. Bush.

Today, the United States informed Director-General Audrey Azoulay of the United States’ decision to withdraw from UNESCO. Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States.

UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, a globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy. UNESCO’s decision to admit the “State of Palestine” as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.

Continued U.S. participation in international organizations will focus on advancing American interests with clarity and conviction.

Pursuant to Article II(6) of the UNESCO Constitution, U.S. withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2026. The United States will remain a full member of UNESCO until that time.

World Book And Copyright Day 2025 | Canva

Every year, World Book and Copyright Day is observed in the month of April. This global event, organised by UNESCO, aims to promote the importance of reading, encourage lifelong learning, and highlight the value of literature. The day also recognises the role of copyright and honours the contributions of authors, libraries, and publishers. Notably, this significant day marks both the birth and death anniversary of William Shakespeare.

Significance of World Book and Copyright Day

World Book and Copyright Day is annually observed on April 23. This year, it will fall on Wednesday. The day promotes a love for literature and recognises the importance of intellectual property rights. It encourages people to develop the habit of reading every day, as books are a valuable source of knowledge.

This day inspires individuals to understand the meaning of literature and helps them cultivate a sense of creative writing. Reading can bridge cultural divides and foster a deeper appreciation of diverse cultures, languages, and religions. The habit of reading not only enhances creative thinking but also provides ideas for writing stories, poems, articles, or in-depth research papers.

Shri Yuvraj Malik, Director, National Book Trust, India, visited Gyan Bharati School, Saket as the Chief Guest for the inauguration of their Book Week, held on the eve of World Book and Copyright Day.

He addressed the students, encouraging them to make reading a daily habit.… pic.twitter.com/ovYo1ZEpvq — National Book Trust, India (@nbt_india) April 22, 2025

Origin of World Book and Copyright Day

World Book and Copyright Day was established by UNESCO in 1955. This day honours legendary authors and poets who have made significant contributions to literature. In addition to William Shakespeare, it also commemorates the death anniversaries of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes.

What is copyright?

Copyright is a legal term that grants exclusive rights to the original works of authors, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works. Copyright is a type of intellectual property that protects the rights of creators of original works of authorship. It gives them exclusive rights to control how their work is used. World Book and Copyright Day raises awareness about the importance of copyright and the rights of authors.

The United States has once again announced its decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This marks the third time the U.S. has left the Paris-based agency, and the second time under a Trump administration. The Biden administration had attempted to re-join the group just two years before its most recent withdrawal, which is scheduled to take effect at the end of December 2026. The decision is a setback for the Paris-based organisation, which was established following World War II to advance peace via global collaboration in science, culture, and education. The United States first joined UNESCO in 1945 but withdrew for the first time in 1984. It returned nearly 20 years later in 2003 under President George W. Bush, who claimed the organisation had undergone necessary reforms. About 8% of UNESCO’s overall funding comes from the US, compared to roughly 20% when Trump initially withdrew the US from the organisation. Let us explore the reasons behind the U.S. exit from the organisation again, and its previous exits and returns.

Check Out: Google and OpenAI Model Wins Gold at International Math Olympiad What are the Reasons for the Withdrawal of the U.S. from UNESCO? The primary reason cited by Washington for this latest departure is what it perceives as an “anti-Israel bias” within UNESCO. White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly also stated that the agency “supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November.” This reasoning echoes previous withdrawals and highlights a recurring point of contention between the U.S. and the international body. What is the History of U.S. Exits from UN Cultural Agency UNESCO? The United States’ relationship with UNESCO has been marked by a pattern of joining, withdrawing, and rejoining. 1984: The U.S. first pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration. The agency was perceived at the time as being corrupt, poorly run, and serving Soviet interests .

2003: After over two decades away, the United States rejoined UNESCO under President George W. Bush .

2011: The U.S. and Israel stopped providing financial contributions to UNESCO after the organization voted to include Palestine as a member state.

2017: The Trump administration announced its intention to withdraw from UNESCO , again citing anti-Israel bias. This decision became effective a year later, in 2018.

2023: After a five-year absence, the Biden administration applied for the U.S. to rejoin UNESCO.

2025: The current Trump administration has announced its intention to withdraw again, effective December 2026.

Check Out: Why is Student Loan Forgiveness Halted in 2025: What IBR Borrowers Need to Know What are the Potential Impacts of the U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO? The U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO carries several potential impacts, both for the organisation and for American interests. While UNESCO has adapted to U.S. funding cuts since 2011, the U.S. previously contributed around 22% of its budget. A full withdrawal means a significant loss of financial support for various programmes in education, science, and culture, and other global initiatives. While U.S. World Heritage Sites will not lose their status, federal support for collaborative programmes with UNESCO may cease, potentially impacting American scientists, educators, and cultural heritage professionals involved in these initiatives. It signals a reduced commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation on issues such as climate change research, ocean sustainability, and the protection of World Heritage Sites within the U.S.