UN Concerned About Funding Cuts as US Halts Foreign Aid, Trump Criticizes Organization for Inefficiency

Multiple sources have indicated to Fox News Digital that the U.N.’s Department of Global Communications is possibly under scrutiny for reform and potential funding reductions, primarily due to its frequent conflicts with the U.S. and Israel.

The need for reform has grown apparent since President Donald Trump’s issuance of an executive order a month ago, which demanded a thorough evaluation of the funds allocated to the U.N. Trump expressed that while the organization holds immense potential, it is currently not functioning efficiently.

Last week, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed concerns about the possible decrease in U.S. contributions to the organization, emphasizing that implementing recent cuts in funding could have adverse effects on global health, safety, and prosperity.

So far, Trump has halted new funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Administration for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and withdrew the U.S. from the U.N. Human Rights Council. On Feb. 27, the U.S. also terminated $377 million in grants with the United Nations Population Fund, which offers sexual and reproductive health services in 150 countries.

UN vehicle enters the UNRWA offices in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Apr 2, 2024. Photo by Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS (Photo by Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS)

Fox News Digital found multiple Tweets from the U.N. Twitter account that promote a one-sided narrative of the Israel-Gaza conflict. These included a Jan. 29 Tweet in support of the UN Relief and Works Administration for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which states that “Israeli legislation imposes massive restraints on UNRWA’s operations,” but fails to note why Israel has banned UNRWA’s operations and a growing number of countries have pulled funding from the terror-tied organization.

A Dec. 27 World Health Organization Tweet retweeted by the United Nations said that a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital was part of a “systematic dismantling of the health system in Gaza,” but did not mention that the Israel Defense Forces entered the facility to apprehend multiple members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including the director, who stored weaponry inside the hospital, as terror groups have done repeatedly during the war.

Spokespersons from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Mission to the U.N., and the United Nations were unable to provide Fox News Digital with figures about what percentage of the Department of Global Communications’ more than $117.9 million budget is covered by the U.S.

In 2022, the U.S.’s $18.1 billion contribution to the U.N. covered 30% of the organization’s total budget. By 2024, U.S. contributions to the U.N. were at 22% for the general budget and 27% for the peacekeeping budget. The U.N. reports that more than 40% of humanitarian aid it donated in 2024 was provided by the U.S. 

A State Department spokesperson did not answer direct questions about whether funding the Department of Global Communications serves U.S. interests, but explained that a 90-day review period instated by a Jan. 20 executive order “is a measure put in place for us to align our ongoing work with the America First agenda. The results of the in-depth review will be communicated transparently.” The spokesperson said that the State “Department and USAID take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously.