U.S. President Donald Trump is set to issue an executive order on Tuesday that will formally withdraw the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council and terminate U.S. financial contributions to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), according to a senior White House official.
This move marks the latest in a series of decisions by the Trump administration to disengage from international organizations and agreements. Since taking office on January 20, Trump has already ordered the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing that these institutions operate against American interests.
The UN Human Rights Council, established in 2006, is responsible for monitoring human rights violations worldwide, but it has long been criticized by U.S. officials, particularly for what they perceive as a disproportionate focus on Israel. Previous U.S. administrations, including those of both Republican and Democratic presidents, have voiced concerns over the Council’s composition, which includes countries with questionable human rights records.
Meanwhile, UNRWA provides aid, including food, education, and healthcare, to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized the agency, arguing that its operations perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than resolve it.
The White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Trump views the withdrawal as a necessary step to protect American sovereignty and ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to support institutions he believes act counter to U.S. interests.
The executive order is expected to provoke strong reactions from the international community, as well as from human rights organizations and U.N. officials. Critics argue that withdrawing from the Human Rights Council will reduce U.S. influence in shaping global human rights policies, while cutting UNRWA funding could deepen the humanitarian crisis for Palestinian refugees.
Despite the controversy, Trump remains committed to his “America First” approach, prioritizing national interests over multilateral engagement. The order will continue his administration’s broader effort to reshape U.S. foreign policy by reducing commitments to international bodies.
