UNESCO runs the influential World Heritage Sites program. There are 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the United States

A third of the newcomers have roots in prehistory, including mysterious megaliths in France and a region in Australia that is home to some of the world’s oldest petroglyphs

"Continued involvement in UNESCO is not in the national interest of the United States," a State Department spokeswoman said in the statement, also adding that "UNESCO works to advance divisive social and cultural causes and maintains an outsized focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals,