The Trump administration’s embrace of “shock and awe” policy pronouncements was on full display earlier this month when the White House announced plans to withdraw from, or at least deny funding to, 66 international organizations, including 31 United Nations entities.
“American taxpayers have spent billions on these organizations with little return, while they often criticize U.S. policies, advance agendas contrary to our values, or waste taxpayer dollars by purporting to address important issues but not achieving any real results,” the White House stated in an accompanying fact sheet.
But a close look at the list of targeted entities suggested the move was perhaps as much about optics — a signal to its base of its “America First’” bonafides — as a commitment to break ranks with the international system, particularly at a time when the State Department is pledging to spend $2 billion for U.N. humanitarian activities in 2026, and Congress has rallied behind a bill that will maintain billions more in funding for the U.N. administrative and peacekeeping budgets.
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
