The United States has recommended a complete withdrawal of funding from United Nations peacekeeping missions in its latest budget proposal. Citing the failures of missions in Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has drafted this proposal, according to internal documents reviewed by British news agency Reuters.
This draft proposal, known as the “passback,” is prepared by the OMB in response to the State Department’s funding request for the upcoming fiscal year starting October 1. The new proposal outlines plans to cut nearly half of the State Department’s overall budget.
However, the budget proposal must first be approved by Congress to take effect. Lawmakers may choose to restore part or all of the proposed funding cuts. Previously, during President Donald Trump’s first term, Congress blocked a proposal to cut one-third of the diplomatic and foreign aid budget.
The United States is the largest financial contributor to the United Nations, covering 22% of the organization’s $3.7 billion core budget and 27% of the $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget under mandatory funding arrangements. The peacekeeping funds are currently used across nine missions in Mali, Lebanon, Congo, South Sudan, Western Sahara, Cyprus, Kosovo, Syria (including the Golan Heights), and the Abyei region on the Sudan-South Sudan border.
The State Department was scheduled to respond to the OMB’s proposal on Tuesday. However, in response to journalists’ inquiries, spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated that no final decision on the budget has been made yet.
Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric declined to answer questions, saying he is not interested in commenting on a leaked document related to internal discussions of the U.S. government.
The U.S. currently owes approximately $1.5 billion in regular UN contributions and around $1.2 billion in peacekeeping dues. Countries with more than two years of outstanding payments risk losing their voting rights in the General Assembly.
As the UN approaches its 80th anniversary, the organization—established to reduce the horrors of war worldwide—is facing financial challenges. Earlier in January, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that efforts are underway to explore new methods for budget tightening and enhancing efficiency.
It is worth noting that UN peacekeeping operations are regarded as a vital tool in ensuring the safety and stability of civilians during global conflicts and crises. A reduction in U.S. funding could severely impair the effectiveness of these missions.