US President Donald Trump signed the executive order withdrawing the US from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Tuesday.
Further, Trump stated that US funding to the UN as a whole is disproportionate.
The order noted that while the US aided in establishing the United Nations in order to avoid future global conflicts following World War II, "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."
With regards to UNRWA, the order noted the agency "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," the order read.
Halting funding
The UNHRC "has protected human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to shield themselves from scrutiny," the order added, noting that "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."
As such, the order stated that US executive departments would desist funding to UNRWA. "Executive departments and agencies shall not use any funds for a contribution, grant, or other payment to UNRWA," the order read.