US Sends Controversial Questionnaires to UN Aid Groups Amid Aid Concerns

Sun Mar 16 2025 10:31:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)
US Sends Controversial Questionnaires to UN Aid Groups Amid Aid Concerns

The US government queries UN agencies about potential anti-US affiliations and links to communism.


The move raises alarms among international organizations about the future of humanitarian aid from the US, already seen as under threat due to substantial funding cuts.

The United States government has sent a set of 36 probing questions to various United Nations aid organizations, sparking concern over the future of American humanitarian assistance. The questions, dispatched by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), include inquiries about potential links to communism and affiliations that could be deemed "anti-American." Significant humanitarian entities such as the UN Refugee Agency and the International Committee of the Red Cross have received these questionnaires, which have been interpreted as indicative of a broader shift away from US commitment to global humanitarian work.

This development emerges alongside a cost-cutting initiative spearheaded by the Trump administration, with notable figures like billionaire Elon Musk involved in the process. The United States has already curtailed much of its foreign aid, prompting fears among UN groups that this new line of questioning signals an intention to withdraw entirely from multinational humanitarian efforts.

Historically, the US has been a major player in international aid, providing 40% of global humanitarian funding despite spending a smaller percentage of its GDP compared to European nations. Nevertheless, a notable fraction of the American public expresses the belief that the country spends excessively on foreign aid. As part of the questionnaire, agencies have been asked to confirm they do not collaborate with entities linked to communism, socialism, or totalitarian regimes, as well as to identify any funding received from countries like China, Russia, Cuba, or Iran.

Some of the inquiries target broader social concepts such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and climate change, which complicates the operational landscape for organizations like UNICEF and the World Food Programme. Critics, including Professor Karl Blanchet from Geneva University, argue that this approach sets aid agencies up for failure, highlighting a significant tension between a multilateral approach to humanitarian assistance and a distinctly American-first perspective.

As a notable reflection of frustration, some UN entities have opted not to respond directly to the questions. One spokesperson cited the limited scope of the yes/no format and the relevance of certain questions to their mandate as reasons for their reluctance. Additionally, the questionnaires hint at economic motives tied to President Trump’s administration, raising further questions about the implications for humanitarian work amid shifting US foreign policy priorities.

The overarching sentiment among critics is clear: the current trajectory may severely impact humanitarian operations undertaken by UN organizations, with potential consequences for vulnerable populations that rely on US funding and support.

MORE ON THEME

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 20:36:50 GMT

**US Sends Controversial Questionnaire to UN Aid Agencies, Sparking Fears of Aid Withdrawal**

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 20:36:50 GMT
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 20:33:10 GMT

USAID's Major Cuts Result in Controversial Document Destruction

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 20:33:10 GMT
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:45:57 GMT

Elon Musk Critiques Government-Funded NGOs Amid Changing Political Winds

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:45:57 GMT
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:10:48 GMT

Trump Administration's Reform Proposal Targets Government Spending and Fraud

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 17:10:48 GMT
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:55:39 GMT

Trump Decries South Africa's Treatment of White Citizens as a Warning to America

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:55:39 GMT
Sat, 15 Mar 2025 02:07:22 GMT

Rising Tensions: US Expels South African Ambassador Amid Political Controversy

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 02:07:22 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:10:36 GMT

**Trump Administration's Latest Actions: A Week in Review**

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 21:10:36 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:33:41 GMT

Italy on High Alert as Severe Flooding Affects Florence and Pisa

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:33:41 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:26:08 GMT

USAID Cuts Leave Bangladesh’s Vulnerable Population on Edge

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:26:08 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:23:31 GMT

Trump's Green Goals: A Contradictory Path to Mineral Dominance

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 14:23:31 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:39:17 GMT

Germany's Leadership Sets Bold New Defense and Climate Spending Plan

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 13:39:17 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:30:35 GMT

**Hamas Proposes Release of American-Israeli Hostage Amid Ongoing Tensions**

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 12:30:35 GMT
Fri, 14 Mar 2025 03:14:35 GMT

Iran's Nuclear Dilemma: A Moment of Critical Decision-Making

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 03:14:35 GMT
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:18:15 GMT

Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire Talks Stalled as U.S. Envoy Shifts Focus to Ukraine

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 13:18:15 GMT
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:00:17 GMT

**Cease-Fire Negotiations in Moscow: A New Diplomatic Effort for Ukraine**

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 11:00:17 GMT
Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:18:17 GMT

US Tech Companies Brace for Impact Amid Increased Tariffs on Imports

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 01:18:17 GMT
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:41:04 GMT

**US and Ukraine Propose 30-Day Cease-Fire Amid Ongoing Conflict**

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 14:41:04 GMT
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:23:00 GMT

Ukraine Agrees to Cease-Fire Proposal Amid Renewed U.S. Military Support

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 12:23:00 GMT
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:04:11 GMT

U.S. Enforces Visitor Registration for Canadians Amid Rising Tensions

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:04:11 GMT
Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:30:13 GMT

Guantánamo's Unused Capacity for Migrant Detention Amidst Slow Transfers

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:30:13 GMT

Follow us

© 2024 SwissX REDD UK ltd. All Rights Reserved.