Ongoing U.S. Republican threats to cut United Nations funding have sharpened with the introduction of a bill in the Senate that would halt support to the U.N. until a Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements is repealed.
The new measure, introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, hits upon the U.N.’s operating budget and the work of all U.N. agencies and specialized organizations, which rely heavily on the U.S. for voluntary contributions. If passed, the Safeguard Israel Act would conditionally prohibit the U.S. government from making “any voluntary or assessed contributions” to the U.N.
A coalition of Republicans, including in the House of Representatives, are also pushing for other, similar legislative proposals that would either reduce U.S. funding to the U.N. or make it voluntary.
About the author
Amy Liebermanamylieberman
Amy Lieberman is the U.N. Correspondent for Devex. She covers the United Nations and reports on global development and politics. Amy previously worked as a freelance reporter, covering the environment, human rights, immigration, and health across the U.S. and in more than 10 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Nepal, and Cambodia. Her coverage has appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Slate, and the Los Angeles Times. A native New Yorker, Amy received her master’s degree in politics and government from Columbia’s School of Journalism.
