The Trump administration recently announced that the United States would withdraw from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Among other activities, UNESCO maintains the World Heritage List, which designates natural and cultural sites around the world that are considered to have outstanding universal value, including 26 sites in the US. The Trump Administration cited UNESCO's work to "advance divisive social and cultural causes" and an anti-Israel bias as reasons for the withdrawal. The move was expected as the US has recently withdrawn from several international organizations and the US withdrew from UNESCO during the first Trump administration.

The US had recently rejoined UNESCO in 2023 under the Biden administration and began paying $600 million in back membership dues, at the time citing concern for the growing influence of China over the organization as reasons for rejoining. Congress also approved a waiver allowing the US to pay their back dues. Preservation Action had long sought for the US rejoin UNESCO and to pay their annual dues, as the lack of US participation put the consideration of future US World Heritage Site nominations in jeopardy. Since 2023, the US nominations of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks in Ohio and the Moravian Bethlehem sites in Pennsylvania were officially added to the World Heritage List. 

Preservation Action is concerned that the recent move by the administration could threaten future nominations on the US tentative list, like the Civil Rights Movement Sites and others.