The United States will withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December 2026, the State Department announced on Tuesday, YYYY-MM-DD. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce cited UNESCO's advancement of "divisive social and cultural causes" and its focus on the UN's sustainable development goals as inconsistent with the "America First" foreign policy. The White House Deputy Spokesperson, Anna Kelly, added that UNESCO supports "woke, divisive cultural and social causes" that contradict American voters' preferences. This marks the third US withdrawal from UNESCO; previous withdrawals occurred in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan and 2017 under President Donald Trump. The US rejoined in 2003 and 2023, respectively.

The US provides approximately 8% of UNESCO's budget, making the financial impact of this withdrawal less severe than previous departures from organizations like the WHO. The decision follows a 90-day review of US membership in February YYYY-MM-DD, citing the organization's failure to reform, anti-Israel sentiment, and outstanding dues. The US rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under President Joe Biden, partly to counter Chinese influence after China became the organization's largest financial contributor during the US absence.

Impact Statement: The US withdrawal will impact UNESCO's funding and potentially its programs in education, culture, and combating hate speech. The long-term effects on international cooperation in these areas remain to be seen.