US to cut $285 million in UN funds

True to his campaign promise, Trump slashed US aid to the UN.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

The US will reduce its funding to the United Nations (UN) by some $285 million.

In an announcement on Sunday, the US mission to the UN stated that in addition to these significant cost savings, it was successful in reducing the UN’s “bloated management and support functions, bolster[ing] support for key US priorities throughout the world, and instill[ing] more discipline and accountability throughout the UN system.”

The UN recently finalized its 2018-2019 budget.

“The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known,” US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stated.

The US “will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked,” she added.

“This historic reduction in spending – in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN – is a big step in the right direction. While we are pleased with the results of this year’s budget negotiations, you can be sure we’ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN’s efficiency‎ while protecting our interests,” she announced.

One of the Trump administration’s stated goals has been to reduce the US funding to the UN. The US currently provides about 22 percent of the total annual budget, or about $3.3 billion per year, according to PolitiFact.

The Trump administration has drafted an executive order in January 2017 that would cut US payments to the United Nations by as much as 40 percent.

This dramatic announcement comes just days after the United Nations General assembly voted in a voted 128-9, with 35 abstentions, in favor of declaring President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “null and void.” Twenty-one countries were absent during the vote.

Prior to the vote, Haley warned member states not to support the measure. “At the UN, we’re always asked to do more and give more. So, when we make a decision, at the will of the American people, about where to locate OUR embassy, we don’t expect those we’ve helped to target us,” Haley tweeted.

“On Thursday there’ll be a vote criticizing our choice. The US will be taking names,” Haley asserted.

Echoing Haley’s statements, Trump threatened to slash aid to nations that vote against the US.

“We’re watching those votes,” Trump warned on Wednesday during a Cabinet meeting. “Let them vote against us. We’ll save a lot. We don’t care. But this isn’t like it used to be, where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars and nobody knows what they’re doing.”