The United States has sent a questionnaire to various United Nations aid agencies, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). One of the key questions in the form asks whether these organizations have any communist affiliations or anti-U.S. connections, according to a report by the BBC.
The 36-question form was issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which the BBC has obtained. The move comes as the Trump administration aims to cut government spending, led by billionaire Elon Musk. The U.S. has already shut down most of its foreign aid programs.
UN agencies fear that this step could indicate a complete withdrawal of U.S. support for humanitarian operations or even a potential exit from the United Nations. On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO).
This week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that most USAID programs have been shut down. While the U.S. spends less on foreign aid relative to its GDP compared to European nations, its large economy still accounts for 40% of global humanitarian funding.
The UN agencies that received the form are not only funded by USAID but also directly by the U.S. government. One of the questions asks if the agency can confirm that it does not collaborate with any communist, socialist, or authoritarian parties or any group that promotes anti-American ideology.
Another question inquires whether these agencies receive funding from China, Russia, Cuba, or Iran. While these countries are not close allies of Washington, they are UN member states and participate in funding major humanitarian organizations.
Some questions require the agencies to confirm that their projects do not include elements related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or climate change. Other questions reflect the Trump administration’s economic priorities, such as asking whether a project affects the U.S. supply chain or the security of critical minerals.
The UN human rights agency has already decided not to complete the form. A frustrated human rights activist compared the questions to asking someone, “Have you stopped beating your child? Yes or no?”
A UN spokesperson told the BBC that since the questions were primarily structured as yes/no answers with limited space for explanations, and since some questions were not relevant to the UN, they opted not to respond directly via the online form. Instead, they provided detailed answers via email.