What is the main reason for the US to quit 66 International Orgs?

US exits UN climate and governance institutions, creating power vacuums likely to be filled by China and India

Team PGurus

January 18, 2026

White House cites sovereignty, ideology and cost-cutting as key reasons

The US exit from 66 international organizations marks a decisive turn in American foreign policy

Main Reasons for Exit

The primary drivers cited by the administration are sovereignty, cost-cutting, and ideological misalignment.

Sovereignty: The administration argues that these organizations have morphed into a “sprawling architecture of global governance” that constrains U.S. domestic policy. By leaving, they aim to remove the “international obligation” often used to justify domestic regulations (particularly environmental ones) [1] .
“Anti-Woke” & Ideology: The White House explicitly criticized these bodies for promoting “DEI mandates,” “gender equity campaigns,” and “climate orthodoxy.” The withdrawal is framed as a rejection of a “globalist project” that allegedly conflicts with American values [2].
Financial: The move is part of a broader effort to slash government spending, with the administration labeling these contributions as “wasteful” and “ineffective.”

Is this a shot across the bow of the “Deep State”?

Yes. The administration and its supporters explicitly frame this as a strike against what they call the “NGO-plex” and the Deep State.

Dismantling the “Bureaucratic Blob”: Proponents view international agreements as tools used by permanent bureaucrats (the “Deep State“) to bypass elected leaders and lock the U.S. into policies—such as climate targets—regardless of who is President [1].
Link to Government Reform (DOGE): This withdrawal is closely tied to domestic “Government Reform” initiatives (often referenced alongside the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE). The logic is that by cutting the international funding streams and treaty obligations, they starve the domestic bureaucracies that rely on them for authority and resources.

Implications

Geopolitical Vacuum: The exit leaves a massive leadership void in critical areas like climate science (IPCC), renewable energy (International Solar Alliance), and counterterrorism. Rivals like China and emerging powers like India are expected to fill this gap, potentially reshaping global standards to fit their interests rather than America’s.
Diplomatic Isolation: The U.S. becomes the only nation outside the UNFCCC (the bedrock of climate diplomacy), isolating it from global decision-making tables .
Scientific Disconnect: Leaving bodies like the IPCC and the International Renewable Energy Agency detaches the U.S. from the primary global networks for scientific data sharing and energy transition planning[3] .
Legal & Constitutional Clashes: Because some of these withdrawals involve Senate-ratified treaties (like the UNFCCC), this move is likely to spark significant constitutional legal challenges regarding a President’s authority to unilaterally exit treaties[3].

References:

[1] Trump withdraws US from 66 global organisations: Here’s the full list – January 8, 2026, indianexpress.com

[2] Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States – January 7, 2026, whitehouse.gov

[3] Trump Sinks to New Low by Announcing US Withdrawal from 66 International Organizations, Including UNFCCC and IPCC – Jan 8, 2026, ucs.org

For all the latest updates, download PGurus App.

Author
Recent Posts

Team PGurus

We are a team of focused individuals with expertise in at least one of the following fields viz. Journalism, Technology, Economics, Politics, Sports & Business. We are factual, accurate and unbiased.