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President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the end of 2018 has elicited concern from the American Institute of Architects.

鈥淭he American Institute of Architects has long supported the cultural mission of UNESCO, and especially its World Heritage Sites program, which seeks to identify and preserve buildings and places of exceptional importance to humankind,鈥� 2017 AIA President Thomas Vonier said in a statement. 鈥淲e hope and expect that the United States will continue to work with global stakeholders to protect such sites.鈥�

The move was needed to stop accumulating unpaid dues and to respond to UNESCO’s 鈥渁nti-Israel bias,鈥� according to the U.S. State Department. The United States stopped paying dues in 2011 in protest of UNESCO’s admission of Palestine as a full member. By the end of the year, the unpaid U.S. bill will exceed $550 million.

The State Department said that it wants to remain as an observer state. That status would allow the U.S. to participate in debates, but remove its ability to vote.

鈥淯NESCO has recently agreed to join with the International Union of Architects to designate a World Capital of Architecture every two to three years, choosing cities of outstanding character with the World Congress of Architects,鈥� Vonier stated. 鈥淭his effort will reinforce the value and importance of architecture and design in human affairs. The AIA urges the administration to lend its support to this initiative.鈥�