The United States announced Tuesday its withdrawal from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), citing ideological differences and policy misalignment.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that continued U.S. membership “no longer serves American interests,” accusing UNESCO of promoting partisan social and cultural goals and overemphasizing the UN’s sustainable development agenda.

She added that the organization’s international development objectives “clash with U.S. foreign policy priorities under the ‘America First’ doctrine.”

A White House official confirmed that President Donald Trump issued the decision earlier in the day, marking another sharp turn in Washington’s engagement with international institutions.

The U.S. had previously withdrawn from UNESCO in 2018 over similar concerns, only to rejoin later.