President Trump is reportedly seeking to slash U.S. funding for United Nations programs by up to 50%. The U.S. is the largest contributor to the UN and its partner agencies, donating about $10 billion per year. Diminished funds from the U.S. could significantly impact UN operations, including efforts by the World Health Organization, World Food Program, and UNICEF to provide humanitarian assistance to millions of people. The timing is particularly concerning given that the world is in the midst of one of the worst humanitarian crises in decades. A famine was recently declared in South Sudan and 20 million people are facing starvation.
Aside from slashed funding, the Trump administration has also threatened to withdraw from agencies that it deems counterproductive, including the U.N. Human Rights Council. The U.S. is the biggest funder of the U.N., but also plays a significant role in U.N. decisions as a permanent member of the Security Council. We can only hope that Trump’s team will carefully assess the detrimental effects that slashed funding could have on millions of people who rely on crucial services provided by UN agencies.