On Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025, the United Nations has warned that deep funding cuts by the United States could severely undermine peacekeeping missions in conflict zones such as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Washington, which contributes 27% of the UN’s $5.6 billion peacekeeping budget, recently cancelled $4.9 billion in foreign aid, including about $800 million earmarked for peacekeeping in 2024 and 2025. The White House budget office has further proposed eliminating peacekeeping funding entirely in 2026, citing failures in operations in Mali, Lebanon, and the DRC. A UN spokesperson on Tuesday said ongoing liquidity shortages already leave 11 active missions “under severe financial pressure.”
The Trump administration defended the cuts, alleging corruption, waste, and abuse in UN operations, and describing peacekeeping accounts as mismanaged “slush funds.” It rescinded hundreds of millions of dollars previously appropriated for peacekeeping activities, arguing reforms are long overdue. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is exploring cost-cutting measures as the organisation marks its 80th anniversary amid a growing cash crisis. The UN has urged all member states to pay contributions on time, warning that without adequate resources, its missions may be unable to protect civilians in some of the world’s most fragile contexts.