The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, expressed “deep regret” this Tuesday over the announcement that the United States will withdraw from the cultural agency by the end of December 2026. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also expressed his profound disappointment over the decision, according to his spokesperson. 

“UNESCO is prepared for this,” Azoulay said in a statement. “Reformed, stabilized, and supported by its members, the agency continues firmly on its course.” 

This withdrawal is not unprecedented. The United States previously left UNESCO in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan and again in 2017 under Trump, citing political disagreements, mainly regarding the agency’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recognition of the State of Palestine. 

“This decision goes against the fundamental principles of multilateralism,” Azoulay said, noting it could primarily impact American partners of the agency, including cities, universities, and local communities seeking to list sites on the World Heritage List or join creative city networks. 

Unlike in 2017, today the United States accounts for only 8% of UNESCO’s budget, down from nearly 25% at that time. Meanwhile, the global budget has grown thanks to the commitment of other member states and a surge in voluntary contributions, which have doubled since 2018. 

UNESCO’s work continues despite Trump

Far from slowing down, the agency has strengthened its initiatives: from rebuilding the old city of Mosul in Iraq to educational programs in Ukraine, Yemen, and Lebanon; protecting biodiversity; and promoting girls’ education.

Its work on Holocaust remembrance has been widely recognized by the Washington Holocaust Memorial Museum, the World Jewish Congress, and the American Jewish Committee. 

Azoulay emphasized that no layoffs are planned and projects will continue. UNESCO will keep working “hand in hand with all our American partners in the private sector, academia, and civil society,” while maintaining dialogue with the Trump administration and the U.S. Congress. 

“The mission of UNESCO is to welcome all nations of the world, and the United States has every place in it, today and tomorrow,” Azoulay concluded, noting that although the reasons for the withdrawal are the same as in 2017, the agency now serves as an exceptional space for consensus in support of multilateralism.