Trump Could Pull The Plug On The U.n. Agency Protecting Millions Of Refugees

The Trump administration has weighed cutting ties pinch nan U.N. exile agency, prompting an urgent lobbying run by diplomats and assistance groups to sphere 1 of nan agency's biggest sources of funding, according to 8 group acquainted pinch nan discussions.

The sources, including diplomats, assistance workers and a legislature insider, told Reuters nan management has considered withdrawing support for nan U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, aliases UNHCR.

A determination had been expected past week but ne'er came, raising hopes that behind-the-scenes lobbying whitethorn person delayed aliases prevented nan move.

The discussions stem from a conflict complete nan assignment of nan agency's lawman precocious commissioner, 5 sources said.

UNHCR has warned supporters it could beryllium placed connected a U.S. blacklist, cutting disconnected funding, and that Washington could besides time off nan agency's governing Executive Committee, according to diplomats and assistance officials.

Such a move would beryllium a awesome rustle to nan agency, which is already grappling pinch backing shortages arsenic wars successful Ukraine and Sudan thrust world displacement to near-record levels.

"People person been alerted by UNHCR to telephone friends successful nan administration," 1 assistance group root progressive successful nan discussions told Reuters. "They are astatine slightest reasoning astir it."

Another diplomat said UNHCR officials had urged friends to usage each disposable negotiated transmission to property Washington to stay engaged.

A State Department spokesperson said location person been nary changes to U.S. engagement pinch UNHCR.

"As pinch galore different world organizations, we activity pinch and done UNHCR erstwhile doing truthful is useful to beforehand U.S. overseas argumentation interests aliases prevention lives," nan spokesperson said, adding that nan management continues to reappraisal U.S. information successful world organizations nether a February 2025 executive order.

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has trim backing to respective U.N. agencies and withdrawn nan United States from organizations including nan World Health Organization. His management has besides encouraged different countries to rotation backmost asylum protections.

According to 5 sources, nan conflict centers connected past month's assignment of profession U.S. diplomat Tressa Rae Finerty arsenic UNHCR's lawman precocious commissioner.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih selected Finerty alternatively of Simon Hankinson, a U.S.-backed campaigner who has accused UNHCR of pursuing "a wide migration agenda."

"If they wanted reform, a return to UNHCR's original ngo of helping existent refugees, and a observant inspection of budgets and spending, I was nan guy," Hankinson told Reuters.

UNHCR declined to comment. U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said nan statement had "no information" connected nan reported U.S. deliberations.

The United States contributed $868 cardinal to UNHCR successful 2025, astir one-quarter of nan agency's full funding. Reuters antecedently reported nan agency's backing fell by astir 30% from 2024 levels, forcing thousands of occupation cuts.

Diplomats and assistance officials warned that a U.S. withdrawal would deepen nan financial situation and frighten nan post-World War II exile strategy built astir nan 1951 Refugee Convention.

"Rethinking it would beryllium an existential threat for UNHCR," a erstwhile elder UNHCR charismatic told Reuters. "It could person a monolithic knock-on effect."