UN warns US cuts could cripple peacekeeping missions

The UN warns that US funding cuts threaten peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the DRC. Trump cancelled $4.9 billion in aid, including $800 million for peacekeeping, and plans to end future contributions. The US, covering 27% of the budget, cites waste and corruption, while the UN urges states to pay as it faces a cash crisis.

United Nations peacekeeping missions are under increasing financial strain, and officials warn that proposed cuts by the United States could gravely affect their ability to protect vulnerable civilians in some of the world’s most fragile conflict zones, including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A UN peacekeeping spokesperson said on Tuesday that the consequences of reduced funding would be severe, noting that operations are already struggling to sustain themselves under current financial conditions.

The concerns follow a decision by United States President Donald Trump last week to cancel $4.9 billion in foreign aid that had been authorised by Congress. Within that sum is about $800 million in peacekeeping funding that had been appropriated for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years. According to a message sent by the Trump administration to Congress, this withdrawal of funds forms part of a broader restructuring of US foreign spending. The White House budget office has gone a step further by proposing the complete elimination of US contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions in 2026, citing perceived shortcomings in several operations, particularly those in Mali, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United States is currently the largest financial supporter of UN peacekeeping, providing around 27 percent of the organisation’s $5.6-billion peacekeeping budget. Officials in New York emphasise that this level of support is crucial to sustaining global operations. The UN spokesperson explained that without adequate resources, peacekeeping missions will be forced to operate with sharply reduced capacity. This would have potentially dire consequences for international peace and security, especially in places like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civilians depend heavily on the presence of peacekeepers for safety and protection. The spokesperson appealed to all member states to honour their commitments by paying contributions in full and on time, stressing that peacekeeping continues to have a vital role in stabilising conflict-affected regions.

At present, there are 11 UN peacekeeping missions deployed around the world. These operations are already facing a liquidity crisis, which has created severe financial pressures. The additional cuts now being pursued by Washington would further weaken their ability to function.

In its communication to Congress, the Trump administration detailed the scope of its decision. It announced the rescission of $393 million out of the $1.2 billion that had been appropriated in fiscal year 2025 for the Contributions for International Peacekeeping Activities account, known as CIPA. It also rescinded more than $400 million appropriated for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for the Peacekeeping Operations account, known as PKO. The CIPA account is specifically designed to cover the United States’ mandatory payments to the United Nations for peacekeeping purposes, while the PKO account is intended to fund peacekeeping and stabilisation missions and efforts to counter extremist threats.

The administration, however, argued that these accounts have been misused and accused UN peacekeeping of being riddled with inefficiency and corruption. In its note to Congress, it described peacekeeping operations as being “fraught with waste and abuse,” referencing alleged misconduct and abuse in missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. It further claimed that billions of dollars in contracts linked to peacekeeping had been implicated in large-scale corruption schemes. The administration framed the funding cuts as the first step toward compelling strong reforms within the UN system. Regarding the PKO account, the note went further to describe it as a “slush fund” that has been used to support initiatives that extend beyond what it defined as a core security mandate.

Against this backdrop of funding disputes and allegations of mismanagement, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is attempting to address the organisation’s financial problems. As the UN marks its 80th anniversary this year, Guterres is pushing for measures to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen oversight so that the organisation can adapt to new realities while continuing to meet its obligations in conflict zones where millions of people depend on peacekeepers for safety and stability.