President Donald Trump has decided to remove the United States from the UN Human Rights Council. On Tuesday, he signed an order officially ending U.S. involvement. The country had previously withdrawn in 2018 under Trump’s leadership, but Joe Biden later rejoined in 2021.
Trump also confirmed that the U.S. will continue withholding financial support from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Israel accused UNRWA employees of participating in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. In response, Israel cut ties with the organization, and the U.S. followed suit.
Trump revived his “maximum pressure” strategy on Iran by signing a directive to strengthen economic sanctions. The goal is to severely limit Iran’s oil exports, its main source of revenue. His administration also plans to penalize those who attempt to bypass the sanctions.
During his first term, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, which had placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities. Afterward, Iran abandoned its commitments to inspections and limits on its nuclear program.
Trump confirmed plans to reform and scale down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). His administration is considering integrating USAID into the State Department, reducing its workforce, and aligning funding with his “America First” agenda.
Elon Musk is leading the restructuring efforts, focusing on reducing the size of government operations. Trump praised his work and pointed out cases of fraud within USAID.
Meanwhile, over 20,000 federal employees have agreed to leave their jobs through a voluntary exit program. The initiative, which runs until Thursday, allows workers to resign while keeping their salaries and benefits until September 30. Trump sees this as part of his plan to shrink the government, though some Democrats question whether the program is legal.
Trump is considering sending American prisoners to foreign detention facilities. While unsure if this plan is legal, he stated that he would implement it immediately if possible.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has already offered to take in U.S. prisoners. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the proposal “a generous offer.”
