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THE United States on Monday announced a $2 billion commitment to United Nations humanitarian programmes, even as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to cut overall foreign aid and urges UN agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in response to new fiscal realities.
AP reported on Monday that although a fraction of historical contributions, the pledge is presented by U.S. officials as a generous amount that maintains the United States’ standing as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.
The funding will create an umbrella pool from which resources will be distributed to individual UN agencies and priorities, reflecting Washington’s demands for sweeping organisational reforms that have caused alarm among humanitarian workers and led to reductions in programmes and services.
According to UN data, U.S. contributions to UN-backed humanitarian programmes have reached as high as US$17 billion annually in recent years, though only US$8–10 billion came from voluntary contributions, with the remainder representing mandatory dues. Critics contend that cuts by Western donors have fuelled hunger, displacement, and disease worldwide, while diminishing U.S. soft power.
The pledge comes after a year of crisis for UN organisations such as its refugee, migration, and food aid agencies.
Cuts by the Trump administration have forced the reduction of projects, services, and staff, compounding the challenges posed by reduced support from other traditional Western donors.
The $2 billion will be channelled through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), led by Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat. Fletcher’s office, which launched a “humanitarian reset” last year to improve the efficiency and accountability of aid spending, will manage the distribution of funds rather than dispersing contributions across multiple appeals.
A senior State Department official explained that the plan aims to create “more consolidated leadership authority” in UN aid delivery. Fletcher and his office “are going to control the spigot” on how resources are allocated.
“This humanitarian reset at the United Nations should deliver more aid with fewer tax dollars — providing more focused, results-driven assistance aligned with U.S. foreign policy,” said U.S. Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz.
The funding will initially target 17 countries, including Bangladesh, Congo, Haiti, Syria, and Ukraine, while Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories are excluded, pending separate allocations tied to Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
The State Department emphasised that the agreement requires UN agencies to consolidate humanitarian functions, reduce bureaucratic overhead, and avoid duplication. “Individual UN agencies will need to adapt, shrink, or die,” the department said.
Fletcher welcomed the deal, stating: “At a moment of immense global strain, the United States is demonstrating that it is a humanitarian superpower, offering hope to people who have lost everything.”
The initiative reflects Trump’s longstanding view that, while the UN has enormous potential, it has drifted from its original mandate, fostering inefficiency, ideological biases, and spending practices at odds with American interests.
The reform aims to establish funding pools directed to specific crises or countries in need, ensuring aid is more strategically and effectively deployed. - December 29, 2025