The Trump administration is slashing U.S. contributions to United Nations aid down to just $2 billion—a massive drop from the whopping $17 billion handed out in recent years—as part of President Donald Trump’s push to overhaul foreign aid and force reforms on the bloated UN bureaucracy.
Officials say the money will go into a streamlined central pool targeting specific global crises, starting with 17 hard-hit countries like Ukraine, Syria, Bangladesh, and Haiti, while stressing the need for tighter oversight and smarter leadership to cut waste. This move comes as the UN begs for $23 billion in 2026 amid dire funding shortfalls from Western donors.
Notably absent from the funding list are Afghanistan and Palestine, with Gaza aid handled separately under a U.S.-specific plan, signaling Trump’s no-nonsense approach to prioritizing American interests.
The decision underscores Trump’s vow to downsize America’s role in endless foreign handouts. As one report put it, “US pledges $2 billion for UN humanitarian aid as Trump slashes funding, warns agencies to ‘adapt or die,'” highlighting the administration’s tough-love message to international bodies. Another outlet noted the “sharp contrast” to past generosity, with Trump continuing his crusade against unchecked global spending.