- US withdraws from 66 organizations, including two digital rights groups
- Marco Rubio says groups ‘actively seek to restrict American sovereignty’
- Digital rights groups promote internet freedom and build cyber resilience
The United States has withdrawn from 66 international organizations that the Trump administration deems “contrary to the interests” of the country.
The list, which includes UN climate treaties and groups working on development, gender equality and conflict resolution, also targets two organizations working to make the internet a safer and more equitable place: the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) and the Global Forum on Cyber Expertise (GFCE).
The executive order, signed by President Trump on Wednesday, directs all U.S. agencies to immediately stop participating in and funding the listed groups.
The Freedom Online Coalition is a group of more than 40 governments working together to promote a world “where the use of the Internet and digital technologies strengthens human rights, democracy and the rule of law.”
Similarly, the Global Forum on Cyberexpertise brings together more than 250 members from governments, the private sector, academia and civil society around the world.
In an email to TechRadar, the company said its mission was to “strengthen the cyber resilience of nations, helping build digital economies, while advocating an open, free and secure Internet for all.”
In a press release, Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledges that many of the organizations added to the list were created to promote “peace and cooperation.”
However, he asserts that they have since “transformed into a sprawling architecture of global governance, often dominated by progressive ideology and detached from national interests.”
Digital rights under fire
This is not the first time the United States has targeted organizations that promote digital rights. Last year, the Open Technology Fund (OTF) saw its budget slashed amid broader cuts at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
The OTF provides essential support for anti-censorship technologies, including VPNs and Tor, as well as research for global digital rights.
The group filed a legal challenge to the cuts in March 2025. Although a court injunction means the OTF continues to receive funding, the litigation is ongoing.
Other entities caught in the crosshairs include Freedom House, which publishes the annual Freedom on the Net report, and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which funds on-the-ground human and digital rights advocacy around the world.
A blow to global coordination
The loss of US support is expected to place considerable pressure on the Freedom Online Coalition and the GFCE, affecting both their scope and resources.
This, in turn, could seriously hamper their ability to achieve their stated goals: improving internet freedoms and promoting cyber capability and expertise worldwide.
Combined with budget cuts from other international organizations, the digital rights sector now faces unprecedented challenges. It remains unclear whether other democratic nations have the capacity – or the political will – to step in and match the scale of American support.
In a statement, the GFCE said it “respects the decision of the American government”.
“The GFCE community remains fully committed to its shared mission of strengthening cyber capabilities through practical cooperation, knowledge sharing and multi-stakeholder engagement,” the group added.
TechRadar has contacted the Freedom Online Coalition for comment. We will update this page when they respond.
