The White House’s Office of Management and Budget has released a preliminary proposal that would drastically reduce the United States' role in global diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and international cooperation. The plan calls for cutting the State Department’s budget by nearly 50%, —most significantly—eliminating funding for nearly all international organizations, including the United Nations, most of its agencies, and NATO headquarters, along with shutting down diplomatic missions and slashing staffing.
International development assistance, currently funded at nearly $4 billion, would be eliminated entirely. Global health programs would be halved, reduced to under $5 billion, with remaining funds limited largely to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria initiatives. Support for migration and refugee programs would be cut by 50% and restricted to emergency-only funding.
A particularly sharp blow is aimed at multilateral institutions. Contributions to international organizations—including core U.N. agencies—would plummet from $1.5 billion to just $169 million, a nearly 90% cut. U.S. funding for U.N. peacekeeping operations, currently at $1.2 billion, would be eliminated altogether. According to a memo cited in media reports, support would be discontinued for over 20 organizations, with only a few exceptions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The proposal also calls for terminating U.S. contributions to international peacekeeping missions, citing “recent mission failures,” although no details are provided. Major nongovernmental humanitarian partners would also lose all funding.
Though still subject to internal review and congressional approval—which has historically altered or blocked similar proposals—the draft reflects the Trump administration’s priorities: a retreat from multilateralism, a rollback of humanitarian commitments, and deep funding cuts across the federal government. If enacted, the cuts would significantly weaken global efforts to address poverty, conflict, health crises, and refugee displacement.
International development assistance, currently funded at nearly $4 billion, would be eliminated entirely. Global health programs would be halved, reduced to under $5 billion, with remaining funds limited largely to HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria initiatives. Support for migration and refugee programs would be cut by 50% and restricted to emergency-only funding.
A particularly sharp blow is aimed at multilateral institutions. Contributions to international organizations—including core U.N. agencies—would plummet from $1.5 billion to just $169 million, a nearly 90% cut. U.S. funding for U.N. peacekeeping operations, currently at $1.2 billion, would be eliminated altogether. According to a memo cited in media reports, support would be discontinued for over 20 organizations, with only a few exceptions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The proposal also calls for terminating U.S. contributions to international peacekeeping missions, citing “recent mission failures,” although no details are provided. Major nongovernmental humanitarian partners would also lose all funding.
Though still subject to internal review and congressional approval—which has historically altered or blocked similar proposals—the draft reflects the Trump administration’s priorities: a retreat from multilateralism, a rollback of humanitarian commitments, and deep funding cuts across the federal government. If enacted, the cuts would significantly weaken global efforts to address poverty, conflict, health crises, and refugee displacement.
What a sad and misguided proposal. Would Musk hope to get those funds for his Mars mission?
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