Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-NY., is preparing to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for her confirmation as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
According to discussions with several former diplomats, a key issue for the incoming U.N. ambassador will be to address the increasing U.S. expenditures at the U.N. The outflows to the organization surged from $11.6 billion in 2020 to $18.1 billion in 2022, with the U.S. shouldering a third of the total U.N. budget.
An unnamed former senior U.S. diplomat shared insights with Fox News Digital, highlighting the necessity for Stefanik to prioritize her objectives due to the diverse tasks ahead. The diplomat emphasized concerns over cronyism, corruption, and the representation of more Americans in roles within the U.N.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks at the Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event in New York City. (REUTERS/Brendan McDermid)
A recent topic of debate at the U.N. illustrates the divergence of the organization from U.S. interests.
In January 2024, the U.S. ended contributions to UNRWA until March 2025 after evidence emerged that members of the agency participated in the attacks of Oct. 7, which killed 1,200, including 45 Americans.
In October, the Israeli Knesset banned UNRWA from operating within Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, given mounting evidence of Hamas infiltration in UNRWA.
In December, a resolution came before the Fifth Committee of the U.N. General Assembly, which is responsible for budgetary and financial matters. The resolution suggested that the International Court of Justice create an advisory opinion on Israel’s UNRWA ban, citing Israel’s “obligations…to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies” and “of basic services and humanitarian development assistance.”
The U.S. voted against the resolution. However, on a related vote about funding the estimated $298,900 required to carry out the resolution, the U.S. simply abstained.
When asked about the discrepancy in its votes, a U.S. Department of State spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the U.S. “has consistently demonstrated opposition to this request for an advisory opinion, including voting against the relevant General Assembly resolution. The budget is a separate matter. The role of the U.N. General Assembly’s Fifth Committee is not to second-guess mandates authorized by other U.N. bodies.”
Bayefsky told Fox News Digital that the State Department’s comment represents a “twisted, indefensible strategy” by the Biden administration. “When it comes to spending our money via the U.N.’s budget committee, allegedly the U.S. role is not to ‘second-guess.'”
