The United States lost its voting rights today at the global cultural agency UNESCO after failing to pay its dues for three years in protest over the agency’s recognition of Palestine. U.S. law compels the automatic withholding of funds from U.N. agencies that accept Palestine as a member, which UNESCO did in 2011. UNESCO protects sites with cultural significance and promotes issues ranging from press freedom to girls’ education. The withholding of U.S. contributions, which accounted for nearly a quarter of the agency’s overall budget, have forced it to slash several programs.