United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has voiced deep concerns over drastic cuts to U.S. foreign assistance, warning that the reductions could have severe consequences for global health, security, and prosperity.
Speaking at the UN on Friday, Guterres stated that the cuts, initiated under the administration of former President Donald Trump, would harm vulnerable populations worldwide. He emphasized that scaling back America’s humanitarian role would ultimately be detrimental to its global interests.
The reductions follow a review of U.S. foreign aid programs to align with the “America First” policy. This has led to significant funding cuts for critical international initiatives, including humanitarian relief in South Sudan, counter-narcotics efforts by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and programs to combat human trafficking. Additionally, funding for major health initiatives targeting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria has been halted.
Guterres highlighted that the lack of U.S. support has already worsened conditions in regions like South Sudan, where refugees fleeing the Sudanese conflict are now stranded in overcrowded border areas without adequate aid.
“I can only hope that these decisions can be reversed based on more careful reviews, and the same applies to other countries that have recently announced reductions in humanitarian and development aid,” he said.
Despite the funding challenges, he reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to delivering life-saving assistance to those in need.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that it reviewed over 6,000 multi-year aid programs and cut nearly 5,800, amounting to a $54 billion reduction in assistance. Additionally, 30 percent of foreign aid-related grants were eliminated, totaling $4.4 billion.
