US secures $285M cut in UN budget
The U.S. Mission to the United Nations announced Sunday that it negotiated a major reduction in the U.N.’s budget for the upcoming fiscal years.
According to a statement from the mission , the 2018-2019 U.N. budget will have a $285 million reduction from the previous two years.
“In addition to these significant cost savings, we reduced the UN’s bloated management and support functions, bolstered support for key U.S. priorities throughout the world, and instilled more discipline and accountability throughout the UN system,” the statement reads.
One of the Trump administration’s goals has been to reduce the amount of contributions that the U.S. makes to the U.N. The U.S. currently provides for about 22 percent of the annual budget, or about $3.3 billion per year, according to PolitiFact .
The U.N. General Assembly previously approved a $5.4 billion operating budget for 2016 and 2017. The regular budget is separate from the body's budget for its sprawling peacekeeping operations, which totaled $7.8 billion for 2017 alone.
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said that the budget cut announced Sunday is a “big step in the right direction” for the U.S., and that she will continue to pursue “ways to increase the UN’s efficiency while protecting our interests."
“The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known,” Haley said. “We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked. 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.”
Conservatives have long criticized the U.N. as not being in the U.S.’s interests, and many have amplified their concerns after the global body overwhelmingly voted for a resolution last week to oppose President Trump ’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Trump suggested earlier this month that the U.S. may cut off foreign aid to nations who voted for the U.N. resolution, and Haley said that the U.S. would be “taking names.”
http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/foreign-policy/366404-us-secures-285m-cut-in-annual-un-budget
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Looks like somebody is keeping up with his statement!!!!!!!
I have to say he seems to be trying to do everything he ran on. Just kills the other side!!! They're so use to being lied to having someone run on one thing and then doing the exact opposite once elected. In fact, we're all use to candidates running on issues and then completely forgetting them once they get in office.
I understand the US is quitting its UNESCO membership so it can save a bundle there. Because of Abbas' and Hamas' reactions to Trump's statement, the next things the US should stop paying money to is UNRWA and all aid to the Palestinian and Hamas governments. I'll bet they add up.
Great news! Next turn to NATO! Get the military out of Spain, Italy, Germany and England. Next donate refurbished F-16's from the Tucson boneyard to the Baltic states along with refurbished armor and then negotiate for air/naval base usage with the Baltics and with Greece. This would force European countries to build their militaries, put a check on Turkey, allow us access to the Northern Sea and Mediterranean, and permit us to pivot more forces towards the Pacific. It's time for Europe/EU to stand on it's own a little more.