The administration of US President Donald Trump has announced a broad withdrawal from dozens of international organizations, deepening Washington’s retreat from multilateral cooperation. The decision affects 66 international bodies, including United Nations agencies, commissions and advisory groups, according to a statement released by the White House after Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday.

The move follows an internal review ordered by the president of US participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those linked to the UN system. A partial list seen by The Associated Press shows that most of the affected bodies are UN-related and focus on areas such as climate policy, labour standards and social issues that the Trump administration has criticised as promoting diversity or what it labels “woke” agendas.

In an official statement, the US State Department said the institutions targeted were deemed “redundant, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful or poorly run”, and accused some of being captured by interests that undermine US sovereignty, freedoms and economic well-being. The administration argues that continued participation in such bodies does not serve American national interests.

The decision comes amid a period of heightened tension in US foreign policy, as the Trump administration has taken or threatened unilateral actions that have unsettled allies and rivals alike. These include US operations related to Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro and repeated signals that Washington intends to assert control over Greenland.

The withdrawals build on earlier steps taken by Trump’s team to suspend support for major international bodies, including the World Health Organization, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), the UN Human Rights Council and UNESCO. At the same time, the US has shifted to a selective approach to paying UN dues, funding only those activities that align with the administration’s priorities.

Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, described the policy as a clear statement of how Washington now views multilateralism. According to him, the US position can be summed up as cooperation strictly on American terms, marking a significant departure from the approach of previous Republican and Democratic administrations.

The pullback has already had tangible effects on the United Nations, which has been forced to consider staff reductions and programme cuts while undergoing internal reforms. Independent non-governmental organizations working alongside the UN have also reported widespread project closures, following the Trump administration’s earlier decision to sharply reduce foreign aid through the US Agency for International Development.