The Trump administration is preparing a significant reduction to U.S. foreign spending, including dramatic cuts to funding for the United Nations, NATO, and international peacekeeping missions, according to new reports.
Under the proposed plan, the State Department budget would face a nearly 50% reduction, cutting around $27 billion, a move aimed at streamlining American diplomacy and prioritizing domestic and strategic interests.
Additionally, the proposal outlines eliminating funding for more than 20 international organizations, including the UN, NATO, and the Organization of American States, according to documents viewed by Fox News Digital and Reuters.
Washington, which is currently the largest financial contributor to the United Nations, provided around $13 billion to the organization in 2023 alone, accounting for 22% of its core regular budget and 27% of peacekeeping operations.
Under the new plan, these peacekeeping contributions would be entirely eliminated. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cited repeated peacekeeping failures, notably in Mali, Lebanon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as justification for ending such funding.
The proposal introduces an alternative approach, setting aside approximately $2 billion in an “America First Opportunities Fund” (A1OF). These funds would be dedicated exclusively to strategic priorities and specific U.S. allies such as India and Jordan, or broader interests like the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.
A State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, explained that the plan remains preliminary. “There is no final plan, final budget,” Bruce said. She noted that the proposal would need approval from Congress, which frequently modifies White House budget requests.
Nevertheless, the administration appears determined to press forward. Documents indicate plans to shutter smaller embassies and consulates in countries including Malta, Luxembourg, the Maldives, and the Central African Republic.
Funding for diplomatic security would drop by 2%, global public health spending would be slashed by 54%, and popular programs like the Fulbright Scholarship would be eliminated entirely.
Critics of the administration’s proposed cuts, particularly congressional Democrats, warn the move could allow strategic rivals such as China and Russia to expand their influence globally.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the cuts “would leave our country alone and exposed,” questioning specifically the rationale behind reducing NATO funding during ongoing security threats in Europe.
Meanwhile, supporters of the administration’s budget approach argue that these cuts represent a necessary shift toward prioritizing American interests and reducing spending on organizations they claim often undermine U.S. policies abroad.
The administration previously dismantled nearly 90% of USAID projects, merged the agency with the State Department, and defunded “soft power” media outlets such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not publicly indicated his stance on the budget plan. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), leading Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee responsible for State Department funding, expressed concern, labeling the proposed reductions “deeply troubling.”
Congressional Republicans, who control both chambers, will receive the full White House budget next month, and a fierce debate is expected as legislators move forward on appropriations bills.