The U.S. will cut its 2018
contribution to the United Nations by $285 million—nearly 25 percent—an
announcement that comes days after more than 120 nations criticized the
United States for its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel.
Ambassador Nikki Haley made the announcement Sunday,
but specifically blamed the world body for its budgetary excesses
without making a specific reference to last week's vote on President
Donald Trump's controversial Jerusalem decision.
“The
inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known. We
will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken
advantage of or remain unchecked,” Haley said in a statement announcing
the cut to the U.N.'s overall $5.4 billion budget. “This historic
reduction in spending—in addition to many other moves toward a more
efficient and accountable U.N.—is a big step in the right direction.”
Haley said there might be further budget cuts in the future. President
Trump's proposed 2018 spending budget would end funding for U.N. climate
change programs and would cut funding to the United Nations Children’s
Fund, also known as UNICEF, by 16 percent.
Trump has long discussed cutting U.S. contributions to the U.N., and
Haley hinted that the current administration could be motivated by a
lack of support for its efforts around the world, specifically after the Jerusalem vote on Thursday.
"The United States is by far the
single largest contributor to the U.N. and its agencies," Haley at the
time. "We do this because it represents who we are. It is our American
way. But we'll be honest with you. When we make generous contributions
to the U.N., we also have a legitimate expectation that our goodwill is
recognized and respected."
All 193 members of the United Nations are required to
make payments as a part of their membership, but the amount each
country must pay differs and is calculated by a formula that factors in
population and gross national income. The U.S. currently funds about 22
percent of the U.N.’s $5.4 billion annual budget.
Members may also
make voluntary contributions, and programs like UNICEF and the World
Food Programme are funded entirely by this discretionary funding.
The State Department provides funding to the U.N. and, as such, follows
the president's instructions. The federal departments of Agriculture,
Energy, and Health and Human Services provide additional funding for
specific U.N. programs with help from Congress.
The U.N. peacekeeping budget was
reduced by $600 million earlier this year after Trump pressured cuts.
The president and Haley also threatened to cut off funding to any
country that voted in favor of a draft resolution that asked the United
States to reverse its Jerusalem decision.
“The
United States will remember this day in which it was singled out in this
assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign
nation,” said Haley ahead of the vote. “We will remember it when, once
again, we are called up to make the world’s largest contribution to the
U.N., and we will remember it when many countries come calling on us to
pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”
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