The 80th UN General Assembly opens under the shadow of U.S. rescissions, $1.5 billion in accumulated arrears, budget battles and renewed debates over America’s role in the very system it helped to build – and still anchors with roughly 22% of its funding.
For diplomats in New World and advocates nationwide, here’s what you need to know about recent actions on Capitol Hill that have ripple effects in Turtle Bay and around the world.
First Rescissions Package
In July, Congress rescinded $9 billion in previously-appropriated funding – nearly $8 billion of which targeted vital international assistance and U.S. contributions to the UN. The measure included $1 billion in FY24 and FY25 funding for the UN.
The bill cut:
- UNICEF: funding for lifesaving programs that vaccinate nearly half the world’s children
- UN peacekeeping operations: including MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and UNIFIL in Lebanon*
- World Health Organization: entirely defunding assessed contributions to the organization and undermining global health coordination and pandemic preparedness
- UN regular budget contributions
*Despite identifying specific missions in the proposal, there remains flexibility in which accounts will be clawed back.
FY26 House Appropriations Bill
On July 23, the House Appropriations Committee marked up its FY26 bill – with significant cuts to the UN.
The bill would:
- Slash Contributions to International Organizations (CIO) by 80%, risking loss of America’s vote in the General Assembly if arrears continue to build
- Cut UN peacekeeping by 55%, undercutting missions the U.S. itself has brokered and endorsed
- Eliminate IO&P entirely, a key source of voluntary funding for the core budgets of UNICEF, UNDP, OHCHR and other critical agencies
- Protect $9.5 billion for global health, including the Global Fund, Gavi and polio eradication
$4.9 Billion Pocket Rescissions Package
In late August, the Administration proposed a second sweeping $4.9 billion rescissions package, including $1 billion in cuts to UN accounts. The claw-back targets funds set to expire at the end of FY25, on September 30. The timing of the package was meant to circumvent Congressional review. While this is legally and constitutionally dubious, Congress is unlikely to take action to vote down the rescission or extend the availability of funds beyond the end of the fiscal year.
Funding clawed back by the Administration includes:
- $521 million from the CIO account: U.S. membership dues that keep our vote in the UN General Assembly and support over 40 other international organizations
- $393 million from the Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA) account: FY25 funding for U.S. assessments for UN peacekeeping operations
- $445 million from the Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) account: U.S. share of assessed budget for UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and support for the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI)
The Bigger Picture
Rescissions and proposed FY26 cuts come at a time when strong U.S. leadership is needed most. By sustaining our commitments, Washington can reaffirm America’s credibility just as allies look to the U.S. to counter aggression and pursue a healthier, safer world.
