The United States announced its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), effective December 2026. This decision, announced by the White House, cites concerns about UNESCO’s advancement of “divisive social and cultural causes,” its focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) described as a “globalist, ideological agenda,” and UNESCO's admission of the State of Palestine as a member state. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay expressed regret, stating the decision contradicts multilateralism and will impact US partners. She refuted claims of anti-Israel bias within UNESCO, pointing to its work on Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.

UNESCO has reportedly prepared for this eventuality, implementing structural reforms and diversifying funding sources to offset the loss of US contributions. While the US currently accounts for eight percent of UNESCO's budget, the organization states its budget has increased thanks to member states and private contributors.

Impact Statement: The US withdrawal will impact US-UNESCO collaborations and potentially affect funding for the organization, although UNESCO claims to have mitigated the financial risk.