The United Nations has voiced serious concern following a White House memorandum announcing the United States' intention to withdraw from or cease funding for 31 distinct UN entities. This sweeping move targets a wide range of international programs focusing on the climate crisis, global trade, gender equality, and urban development, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). While the U.S. remains legally bound to pay its assessed contributions to the regular budget, the withdrawal of voluntary support from its largest donor threatens to disrupt critical operations that serve millions of people in the world's most vulnerable regions.
In response, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed that the Organization’s mandates are given by the collective of Member States and willbe carried out "with determination" despite the shift in U.S. policy. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized that the UN’s responsibility to
deliver for those who depend on it remains unwavering. As the international community braces for the impact of this retreat from global leadership, the focus has shifted to the urgent need for reinforced multilateral cooperation to bridge funding gaps and protect the progress made toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
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