Withdrawing the United States From and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations
Signed: February 4, 2025
Published: February 10, 2025
Document Number: 2025-02504
📋Summary
This executive order ends U.S. participation in the UN Human Rights Council, including shutting down the U.S. representative office for that body, and directs a 90-day review of whether the United States should remain a member of UNESCO. It also bars U.S. government funds from being used to support UNRWA and requires the State Department to withhold the U.S. share of UN regular budget funding tied to the UN Human Rights Council. Within 180 days, the State Department must review all international organizations, treaties, and conventions the United States supports to identify which ones conflict with U.S. interests and whether they can be reformed, and then recommend possible withdrawals. It affects U.S. federal departments and agencies that provide international funding or support, and it instructs the Secretary of State to notify UN leadership that the United States will not fund UNRWA or the UN Human Rights Council or pay related 2025 assessments or past dues.
💼Business Impact
Industries most affected are government contractors and NGOs that deliver humanitarian aid (especially Middle East programs), plus universities, museums, cultural/education nonprofits, and consulting firms that rely on UNESCO- or UN-linked grants, partnerships, or branding; any company selling compliance, monitoring, or services into UNHRC/UNRWA-adjacent work may see demand drop. Compliance risk rises for firms operating in conflict zones or partnering with local NGOs: expect tighter U.S. government due diligence and vetting around counterparties, subgrantees, and employee screening to avoid any indirect UNRWA funding or terrorism-linked exposure, while opportunities may shift to alternative U.S.-funded channels (USAID/State bilateral programs, vetted NGOs, or private philanthropy) as UN funding is reallocated. Immediate actions: (1) map revenue and projects tied to UNRWA/UNHRC/UNESCO or UN pass-through funds, (2) review contracts for termination/force-majeure and rebid pathways, (3) strengthen sanctions/terrorism financing controls and partner due diligence for any MENA work, and (4) monitor the 90-day UNESCO membership review and 180-day broader review because additional withdrawals/funding
Full Text
Executive Order 14199 of February 4, 2025
Withdrawing the United States From and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1 . Purpose. The United States helped found the United Nations (UN) after World War II to prevent future global conflicts and promote international peace and security. But some of the UN's agencies and bodies have drifted from this mission and instead act contrary to the interests of the United States while attacking our allies and propagating anti-Semitism. As in 2018, when the United States withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the United States will reevaluate our commitment to these institutions.
Three UN organizations that deserve renewed scrutiny are the UNHRC; the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State (Secretary) as foreign terrorist organizations, and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. UNHRC has protected human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to shield themselves from scrutiny, while UNESCO has demonstrated failure to reform itself, has continually demonstrated anti-Israel sentiment over the past decade, and has failed to address concerns over mounting arrears.
Sec. 2 . UNHRC and UNESCO Participation. (a) The United States will not participate in the UNHRC and will not seek election to that body. The Secretary shall terminate the office of United States Representative to the UNHRC and any positions primarily dedicated to supporting the United States Representative to the UNHRC.
(b) The United States will also conduct a review of its membership in UNESCO. This review shall be led by the Secretary, in coordination with the United States Representative to the United Nations (UN Ambassador), and must be completed within 90 days of the date of this order. The review will include an evaluation of how and if UNESCO supports United States interests. In particular, the review will include an analysis of any anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment within the organization.
Sec. 3 . Funding. (a) Executive departments and agencies shall not use any funds for a contribution, grant, or other payment to UNRWA, consistent with section 301 of title III, division G, of Public Law 118-47 (March 23, 2024). The Secretary shall withdraw the determination previously made under section 7048(c)(1) of title VII, division F, of Public Law 118-47. Accordingly, of the funds appropriated for a contribution to the UN Regular Budget under the heading “Contributions to International Organizations” of Public Law 118-47, as most recently continued by Public Law 118-158 (December 21, 2024), the Secretary shall withhold the United States proportionate share of the total annual amount of UN Regular Budget funding for the UNHRC, consistent with section 7048(c) of title VII, division F, of Public Law 118-47. ( printed page 9276)
(b) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary, in consultation with the UN Ambassador, shall conduct a review of all international intergovernmental organizations of which the United States is a member and provides any type of funding or other support, and all conventions and treaties to which the United States is a party, to determine which organizations, conventions, and treaties are contrary to the interests of the United States and whether such organizations, conventions, or treaties can be reformed. Upon the conclusion of that review, the Secretary shall report the findings to the President, through the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, and provide recommendations as to whether the United States should withdraw from any such organizations, conventions, or treaties.
Sec. 4 . Notification. The Secretary shall inform the UN Secretary General and the leadership of UNRWA and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights that the United States will not fund UNRWA or the UNHRC and that the United States will not satisfy any claims to pay 2025 assessments or prior arrears by these organizations.
Sec. 5 . General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
February 4, 2025.