The Biden administration and the State Department have released statements that announce the attempted re-entry into the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
John Bass, who is employed under the Secretary of State’s management office, said that rejoining UNESCO would prove beneficial to competing with China on a global scale. Re-entry into the organization was a goal that the Biden administration put out during their campaign.
The process for the US to rejoin requires all current members to vote and agree to let them back in, as well as the US paying off its outstanding bills with the organization. The Biden administration has set aside funds that amount to $150 million USD to be able to repay the dues upon re-entry.
Relations between the US and UNESCO have been turbulent, with the US rejoining and leaving multiple times as administrations changed.