'Adapt, shrink or die': Trump begins slashing UN aid with $2 billion pledge a fraction of previous contributions | Fortune

"The United States on Monday announced a $2 billion pledge for U.N. humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump's administration continues to slash U.S. foreign assistance and warns United Nations agencies to "adapt, shrink or die" in a time of new financial realities. The money is a small fraction of what the U.S. has contributed in the past but reflects what the administration believes is a generous amount that will maintain the United States' status as the world's largest humanitarian donor."

"The pledge creates an umbrella fund from which money will be doled out to individual agencies and priorities, a key part of U.S. demands for drastic changes across the world body that have alarmed many humanitarian workers and led to severe reductions in programs and services. The $2 billion is only a sliver of traditional U.S. humanitarian funding for U.N.-backed programs, which has run as high as $17 billion annually in recent years, according to U.N. data."

"Critics say the Western aid cutbacks have been shortsighted, driven millions toward hunger, displacement or disease, and harmed U.S. soft power around the world. A year of crisis in aid The move caps a crisis year for many U.N. organizations like its refugee, migration and food aid agencies. The Trump administration has already cut billions in U.S. foreign aid, prompting them to slash spending, aid projects and thousands of jobs."

The United States announced a $2 billion pledge for U.N. humanitarian aid while scaling back broader foreign assistance and urging U.N. agencies to "adapt, shrink or die" amid new financial realities. The pledge creates an umbrella fund to allocate resources to agencies and priorities, aligning with U.S. demands for significant reforms across the U.N. system. The amount is far below past U.S. humanitarian contributions that have reached as high as $17 billion annually, with $8–$10 billion typically voluntary. Critics warn that Western aid reductions have intensified hunger, displacement, disease, and weakened U.S. soft power. U.N. agencies have slashed programs, spending, and staff after funding losses.

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