The White House has proposed eliminating U.S. funding for United Nations peacekeeping operations, citing ongoing failures in missions across Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The proposal, revealed in the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) “Passback” document—its response to State Department funding requests for the next fiscal year beginning October 1—also includes plans to slash the overall State Department budget by nearly 50 percent.
The United States is currently the largest contributor to the UN, responsible for approximately 22% of the organization’s $3.7 billion regular budget and 27% of its $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget. China is the second-largest contributor.
The proposal specifically targets the termination of funding under the Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities (CIPA), a move that, if enacted, would drastically reshape U.S. engagement in global peacekeeping efforts.
However, the proposed budget must pass through Congress, which retains the final authority over federal spending. Lawmakers may choose to reinstate some or all of the funding in question. A similar effort during former President Trump’s first term—where he sought to cut a third of diplomacy and aid budgets—was strongly resisted by Congress.
Responding to questions about the proposed cuts, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated on Tuesday that “there is no final plan, no final budget,” indicating that negotiations are still ongoing.
The State Department is expected to formally respond to the OMB proposal this week.
