Washington, D.C. (January 8, 2026)—In response to President Trump issuing a memorandum directing U.S. agencies to withdraw the United States from 66 international organizations — including the United Nations (UN) Oceans and the Global Climate Treaty — John Hocevar, Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director, said: “Once again, the president has ignored the interests of the United States in order to pursue his own agenda, jeopardizing our collective future. Climate change already costs the U.S. economy $150 billion a year, and is projected to increase dramatically. The very real problems these organizations work to solve will not stop at the U.S. border just because the president no longer wants the U.S. to help address them.

“As important multilateral collaboration is to solving the world’s problems, the impacts of Trump’s retreat will be mixed. The U.S. and other Global North countries provide much of the financing that facilitates these efforts and Trump turning his back on this critical responsibility will put more burden on others to pick up the slack. Alternately, international negotiations won’t be delayed by the Trump administration’s obstructionist behavior. After withdrawing from these organizations, the administration will no longer be able to block global progress — though Americans and American businesses will still be impacted. 

“You may ask why Trump’s order to withdraw the U.S. from international efforts matters, given all the other terrible decisions he is making. The administration has bombed Venezuela and abducted its leader, and threatened to forcibly annex Greenland. Yesterday, after a masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot a young mother in the face and fled the scene, the administration callously pushed out a story that had no relation to what was captured on video.

“The common thread is a lawless administration that Congress has failed to hold accountable. That needs to change, and it is up to all of us to make sure that happens.”

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Media Contact: Greenpeace USA Press Desk: [email protected] 

Greenpeace USA (Greenpeace Inc.) is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems.