What to know about UNESCO, the UN organization Trump is pulling the U.S. from

President Trump's decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is not a surprise — but it marks yet another drop in Washington's roller-coaster relationship with the agency.The big picture: The move mirrors the president's first term, when the U.S. departed UNESCO over alleged anti-Israel bias, and deepens the administration's broader retreat from multilateral bodies deemed hostile or ineffective.Trump has also ordered withdrawals from other international organizations, such as the World Health Organization and the UN Human Rights Council.Driving the news: Just around two years after the U.S. rejoined the organization under former President Biden, the Trump administration will again depart from the agency.White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement that the organization "supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November."Trump in February ordered a 90-day review of the country's participation in UNESCO to evaluate "how and if UNESCO supports United States interests" and "any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization."State of play: The withdrawal will take effect on December 31, 2026, per the State Department.Here's what to know about the organization and its history with the U.S.:Why was UNESCO created? Flashback: The agency, per its website, was formed in the wake of World War II and is dedicated to "strengthening our shared humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication."Its Constitution opens with the words, "That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed."The U.S. joined UNESCO at its founding, per an archived State Department page, with the first American member of UNESCO's governing board writing the aforementioned preamble.Who is part of UNESCO?By the numbers: The organization's website states that it currently has over 190 members and a dozen associate members.Israel, which formally departed UNESCO in 2019, is listed as a "Non-member."What does UNESCO do? The organization's work touches a wide variety of causes, from safeguarding biodiversity and heritage to advancing education access.Zoom in: One of its most prominent projects is the World Heritage List, which includes more than 1,200 properties deemed by the World Heritage Committee to have "outstanding universal value."Countries that adhere to the World Heritage Convention agree to identify and nominate properties on their territory to be considered for the list and provide details about its protection and upkeep.It also keeps lists of "intangible cultural heritage" that include things like "Equestrian art in Portugal" and "Artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread."The latest: Earlier this month, the committee inscribed 26 new cultural and natural properties on the list, including palaces, tombs, caves and rainforests.Three sites were removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger, which UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay described as a "great victory for all."Zoom out: Education is also paramount to UNESCO's mission. Per its website, the organization is the "only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education."The organization says it "actively helped to frame" the Education 2030 agenda for quality education access as part of the broader Sustainable Development Goals.What is the history of U.S. participation in UNESCO?While the U.S. accepted the body's Constitution some eight decades ago, the relations between Washington and the organization have been rocky across some five decades.In the 1970s, Congress suspended UNESCO appropriations after the organization excluded Israel from a regional group, saying it had altered Jerusalem's historical features.Under the Reagan administration, the U.S. departed from UNESCO, which Washington accused of mismanagement and of politicizing issues. It rejoined under former President George W. Bush.In 2011, Washington stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to admit Palestine as a full member. That resulted in the U.S. owing the organization hundreds of millions in arrears.In 2017, the Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from the organization, citing anti-Israel bias. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. again rejoined due to concerns of rising Chinese influence.Go deeper: Trump's soft-power retreat scrambles U.S.-China race

Comments

World news

Evacuations in Greece after major forest fire breaks out

Independent

Comments

World news

Evacuations in Greece after major forest fire breaks out

The Italian mountain resort that offers a mild, affordable summer escape

The countries where workers can dip into their pension pots early, mapped

Melanie Blatt: At 50, I’m either doing cold plunges or smoking and eating McDonald’s

Man Utd have treated Marcus Rashford abysmally

Trump’s Wall Street Journal lawsuit could backfire spectacularly

We R Blighty and other rogue fundraisers could face tougher laws

Fears of summer Covid wave as new dominant variant spreads

High inflation and low rates means £1 saved in 2020 now worth just 89p

Critical: Between Life and Death is not for the queasy

I’ll spend £2k on childcare this summer – the school holidays are a nightmare

Trump’s Deportations Spark Anger Across Africa

Judges in Epstein, Maxwell grand jury transcript cases request more details from DOJ

Hong Kong judge rules in favor of transgender bathroom access

Gaza war: Is the UK selling arms to Israel?

FKA Twigs and Shia LaBeouf reach settlement in abuse lawsuit

Microsoft servers hacked by Chinese groups, firm says

US House speaker shuts down chamber to block Epstein vote

Teeth marks suggest 'terror bird' was killed by reptile 13 million years ago

Thousands protest as Zelenskyy signs bill weakening anti-corruption agencies

The U.N.'s highest court will decide on the climate obligations of countries

Wednesday Briefing: Israel Expands Gaza Offensive

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Ukrainian military loses first French Mirage fighter jet in crash ahead of peace talks

Delta flight was traveling 60 mph down runway when AeroMéxico plane landed in front of it

Rap group defense lawyer charged after being accused of tipping off gang member to ditch evidence

Driver accused of intentionally plowing car into crowd outside Los Angeles nightclub charged with attempted murder

Two types of tuna recalled over listeria contamination fears

Trump claims he’s made a ‘massive’ trade deal with Japan

I’m a Gen Z and can’t afford to pay into a pension – my future is bleak

Home Office to share asylum hotel locations with food delivery firms

Rows of decomposing bodies that can't be buried because of fierce fighting in Syrian city

Why is MAGA splitting over Israel?

Max Scherzer blames himself for Blue Jays’ loss

Major update in Air India crash probe references key issue thought to be its cause

Camp Mystic: Why were so many people killed there during Texas floods?

Protests in Ukraine as Zelensky signs bill targeting anti-corruption bodies

Obama blasts 'bizarre' Trump claim of 2016 election 'treason'

The 'underwater bushfire' cooking Australia's reefs

Big cat owners hide their animals amid Pakistani crackdown

Wife of Diogo Jota posts 'forever' tribute

Idaho student killer heads to prison, but mysteries in the case remain

Iran's detainees in 'unbearable' conditions after Israeli strikes on prison

Deepfake deception: Indian woman's identity stolen for erotic AI content

The latest front line in the battle for Sudan

Trump announces trade deal with Japan that lowers threatened tariff to 15%

Officials in Iran Suspect Sabotage in Wave of Fires and Explosions

Hugging bandit: Edmonton senior falls victim to distraction theft

Homeland Security urges Americans to report former lovers to ICE: ‘From domestic abuser to deported loser’

Hershey is raising the price of its candy bars over the high cost of cocoa

Newsmax star defends Alex Acosta’s sweetheart plea deal for Epstein — but ignores the network’s conflict of interest

Trump’s best hope to cool down Epstein fury may be for Hunter Biden to keep talking

Exclusive: Walmart reveals how it fights fakes on Marketplace

U.S. envoy Witkoff to meet Israeli, Qatari officials in Rome in Gaza ceasefire push

Rice’s late homer lifts Yankees over Blue Jays 5-4

Taxpayer-funded gift card purchases in Richmond stretch back to last decade

Not horsing around: Vancouver airport is 1st in Canada to feature therapy ponies

Thief allegedly drives off with vehicle just steps away from owner in Kelowna

B.C. couple asked to pay duties on family heirloom returned to them from U.S.

The Latest: Trump deflects questions about Epstein files and revives old grievances

Obama releases rare statement on ‘Russia-gate’ after Trump accuses him of ‘treason’