Trump’s Bold Actions Holding the United Nations to Account

Since taking office for his second term, President Donald Trump has pursued a bold agenda to scrutinize and reform the United States’ relationship with the United Nations (UN).

 

Citing inefficiencies, biases, and misalignment with U.S. interests, the administration has implemented measures to hold the UN accountable, including targeted sanctions, funding cuts, legislative proposals like the DEFUND Act, the dissolution of USAID, and investigations into alleged financial improprieties.

 

This article examines these initiatives to highlight the administration’s multifaceted approach to reshaping U.S.-UN relations.

 

But first, it’s critical to understand why accountability matters: the UN, as a self-governing body, is immune from lawsuits, shielding it from external scrutiny. The Trump administration’s actions, however; defunding select UN agencies, sanctioning officials, and signaling potential withdrawal, aim to address this unchecked power.

 

1. Sanctions on UN Special Rapporteur

 

The Trump administration sanctioned Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories. Albanese has consistently supported Hamas and urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to charge Israeli officials with “war crimes.” Her June 2025 report, “From Economy of Occupation to Economy of Genocide,” went so far as to accuse over 60 companies, including U.S. firms, of complicity in Israel’s alleged “genocidal campaign” and “illegal occupation.”
This prompted the U.S. to impose asset freezes and visa restrictions, signaling intolerance for anti-American and pro-Hamas bias within UN mechanisms.

 

Albanese and other UN experts decried the sanctions as an attack on their independence, but these measures set a valuable precedent as they exposed the misuse of international platforms for politicized narratives, fostering accountability and impartiality in global human rights oversight—overall, a net positive for the U.S. and the world.

 

2. Sanctions on ICC Prosecutors and Judges

 

On February 6, 2025, Executive Order 14203 authorized sanctions against ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan for issuing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The order also targeted ICC judges Kimberly Prost and Nicolas Guillou for probing U.S. military actions in Afghanistan and supporting warrants against Israeli officials.

 

Additional sanctions were imposed on ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan on August 20, 2025, for similar reasons.

 

These measures, including asset freezes and travel bans, aim to protect the U.S. and the sovereignty of her allies. While the ICC condemned these actions as an assault on judicial independence, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended them as essential to national interests.

 

3. Strategic Defunding of UN Agencies

 

Aligning with its “America First” doctrine, the Trump administration slashed funding to select UN agencies with the stroke of a pen.

 

Executive Order 14149, signed February 4, 2025, halted U.S. support to three UN agencies including the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), citing ties to anti-Israel activities and the terrorist group Hamas. The U.S. also withdrew funding from UNESCO on July 22, 2025, criticizing its “divisive” agendas, whilst also ceasing participation in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Funding cuts also extended to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and World Food Programme.

 

UN officials warn that Trump’s cuts threaten humanitarian efforts, but is that really the truth? In 2023, the U.S. contributed $13 billion to the UN, that’s over a quarter of its entire operating budget, yet less than 20% of these funds directly aid those in need. As such, the administration has been conducting a review of all U.S. funding to the UN, as mandated by Executive Order 14149, which signals there may still be further reductions in future to ensure alignment with national priorities.

 

4. Legislative Push for UN Disengagement

 

U.S. Senator Mike Lee, a Trump ally in the Senate, has proposed a bill which could see not only the U.S. exit the UN but the UN exit the U.S.

 

The DEFUND Act, which proposes halting U.S. contributions and relocating UN headquarters from New York, would finish what the 2024 House appropriations bill began through the elimination of funding for the UN’s regular budget. These moves from within Congress reflect a growing Republican resistance to increasing UN support.

 

If the current trajectory holds, total disengagement is possible which would pose significant challenges for the UN’s operations.

 

5. Dissolution of USAID

 

On January 26, 2025, Executive Order 14169 suspended U.S. foreign assistance through USAID and the State Department for 90 days, followed by USAID’s dissolution.

 

This disrupted funding to UN agencies like UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Food Programme, which the administration views as misaligned with American values. Despite a Maryland judge’s temporary halt in March 2025, the cancellation of $60 billion in aid contracts has already been carried through on.

 

6. Exposing Financial Mismanagement

 

The administration has intensified scrutiny of UN financial practices, building on Trump’s first-term criticisms of the organization’s reliance on U.S. contributions (22% of the core budget, 27% of peacekeeping).

 

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) accused USAID of “criminal activity and lack of accountability,” prompting Executive Order 14149’s 180-day review of U.S.-funded international organizations. This targets programs like UNRWA and the UN’s sustainable development goals, which are perceived to be misaligned with U.S. priorities.

 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a “relationship of trust” to address these concerns, likely reflecting the UN’s financial dependence on the U.S.

 

Conclusion

 

The Trump administration’s actions; sanctions, defunding, legislative proposals, USAID’s dissolution, and financial scrutiny, all reflect a strategic shift in U.S. foreign policy, prioritizing national interests over multilateral commitments.

 

Hopes remain high that these measures, and any future additions to them, would compel the UN to address its inefficiencies and biases, whilst urging other nations to reconsider their alignment with an organization long shielded from accountability.

 

By setting these precedents, the administration is restoring accountability on the international front by shaking global institutions, a net positive for both the U.S. and the international community.

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