President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda reached a dramatic peak with the U.S. severing ties to 66 international agencies, spanning climate initiatives and global health efforts. This comprehensive withdrawal signals a profound realignment in American foreign policy, focusing resources inward amid criticisms of wasteful overseas spending.
Breaking down the list, 31 UN-affiliated organizations and 35 independent ones fall under the axe, according to White House disclosures. State Department critiques highlight mismanagement and misalignment with U.S. goals, labeling them as detrimental to economic growth and citizen welfare.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio framed the decision as promise kept. ‘President Trump vowed to prioritize Americans, halting funds to entities that oppose our values and prosperity,’ Rubio said. This step, he added, safeguards national interests against bureaucratic overreach.
High-profile exits spotlight the scale: the India-France launched International Solar Alliance for solar energy promotion joins the UNFCCC, the 1992 pact central to global climate action and Paris Agreement foundations. Trump boycotted the 2025 Brazil climate summit, consistent with his skepticism toward climate science, often branding IPCC reports as hoaxes.
Echoing the WHO withdrawal announced earlier in 2025—effective post-2026—these moves dismantle decades of U.S. leadership in multilateral forums. Proponents argue it empowers fiscal responsibility, redirecting billions toward infrastructure, jobs, and security at home.
Detractors, however, decry the loss of soft power and collaborative leverage on existential issues like rising seas and pandemics. India’s ISA involvement underscores ripple effects on allies. As Trump reshapes alliances, the global stage braces for a unipolar pivot—or potential vacuum—where America’s absence looms large.
This policy pivot not only tests international norms but invites scrutiny on whether isolation yields strength or solitude in an interdependent world.