US Aiming At Renewed , Membership In UNESCO .br NPR reports that the United States is looking to rejoin br UNESCO after abruptly exiting the United Nations br Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.br NPR reports that the United States is looking to rejoin br UNESCO after abruptly exiting the United Nations br Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.br On June 12, the U.S. State Department sent a letter to the br Paris-based group announcing its decision to rejoin the br group, widely known for maintaining World Heritage Sites.br On June 12, the U.S. State Department sent a letter to the br Paris-based group announcing its decision to rejoin the br group, widely known for maintaining World Heritage Sites.br This is a strong act of confidence, br in UNESCO and in multilateralism. , Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO director-general, via NPR.br Not only in the centrality of br the Organization's mandate — br culture, education, science, information — br but also in the way this mandate br is being implemented today, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO director-general, via NPR.br Last year, Congress agreed br that the U.S. will once again make br financial contributions to UNESCO.br In December, the group said the U.S. br could return pending approval of its br proposed plan by other member states.br In 2017, the U.S. State Department said it would be br exiting UNESCO over what was perceived to be br anti-Israel bias, financial concerns and other issues.br At the time, Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador br to the U.N., said that the group's , "extreme politicization has become br a chronic embarrassment.".br NPR reports that the U.S. has pulled out of UNESCO br in the past, only to rejoin again at a later date.br In 1984, the country left under br President Ronald Reagan, who cited , "poor management and values opposed to our own.".br The U.S. would rejoin in 2002 under br President George W. Bush praising reforms br to the group's management structure.