The United States will withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the end of 2026, citing what it calls persistent anti-Israel bias and the promotion of divisive cultural agendas, the White House confirmed Tuesday.

White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly told The New York Post: “President Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from UNESCO, which supports woke, divisive cultural and social causes that are totally out-of-step with the commonsense policies that Americans voted for in November.”

This marks the third time Washington has exited the agency, having previously withdrawn under Ronald Reagan in 1984 before rejoining under George W. Bush in 2003, and again leaving during Donald Trump’s first term. The Biden administration brought the US back in 2023 after a five-year absence.

UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay said she “deeply” regretted the US decision, though she acknowledged it was not unexpected. She defended the organization’s work, rejecting claims of anti-Israel bias and highlighting efforts in Holocaust education and combating antisemitism.

“These claims … contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts,” Azoulay said, adding that the US was citing the same reasons it gave seven years ago, despite what she described as significant progress in reducing political tensions within the agency.

While the US remains one of UNESCO’s largest contributors, its share of funding has dropped to about 8 percent in recent years as the agency diversified its revenue sources. Azoulay assured that UNESCO would continue its work despite “inevitably reduced resources” and confirmed no layoffs were planned.

“UNESCO’s purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and always will be welcome,” she said, pledging to maintain ties with US partners in the private sector, academia, and civil society while continuing dialogue with Washington and Congress.

The Trump administration’s decision followed a review of US involvement ordered earlier this year. UNESCO officials reportedly anticipated the move, particularly as the US return in 2023 was championed by Trump’s political rival, Joe Biden.

The Reagan administration had left UNESCO in 1984, alleging corruption and Soviet influence, before the US rejoined in 2003. Azoulay insisted the agency has since reformed and become “a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism.”