Trump Signs Executive Order Withdrawing U.S. from UN Human Rights Council and UNRWA
In a bold move that has sparked global attention, President Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order withdrawing the United States of America from several United Nations bodies, including the UN human Rights council (UNHRC) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). The order, signed on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, also calls for a review of U.S. involvement in the UN Educational, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).
This decision comes as a protest against what trump describes as “anti-American bias” within these UN bodies. The withdrawal marks the end of U.S. participation in the UNHRC’s activities, which include reviewing human rights records of member countries and addressing specific accusations of human rights violations.
“In general, the executive order called for a review of U.S. involvement and funding in the United Nations, given the gaps and large levels of funding among various countries,” said Will Scharf, Secretary of the White House staff, in a statement quoted by AFP. While acknowledging the United Nations’ “extraordinary potential,” Scharf criticized the organization for not being “carried out well.”
Trump has long criticized the disproportionate financial contributions made by the U.S. to multilateral organizations. He has repeatedly called for other nations to increase their funding, notably to the NATO military alliance.
The executive order also halts U.S. funding for UNRWA, an agency that provides critical aid to Palestinian refugees. This decision follows a previous suspension of funding in January 2024 under the Joe Biden management, after Israel accused 12 UNRWA employees of involvement in the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
This is not the first time Trump has pulled the U.S. out of international agreements. early in his presidency, he withdrew from the Paris climate agreement and initiated the process of leaving the World health Organization (WHO).
key Points of the Executive Order
| Action | Details |
|————————————-|—————————————————————————–|
| Withdrawal from UNHRC | Ends U.S. participation in human rights reviews and investigations. |
| Halting funding for UNRWA | Stops financial support for Palestinian refugee aid programs. |
| Review of UNESCO involvement | Assesses U.S. role and funding in the cultural and educational organization.|
This latest move underscores Trump’s ongoing skepticism of multilateral institutions and his push for a more “America first” approach to global affairs. The implications of this withdrawal are likely to reverberate across international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts for years to come.For more details on this developing story, visit the original sources: The Hill, NPR, and AP News.
