Nearly 500 UN staff gathered at a Labor Day rally in Geneva to protest budget cuts prompted by President Donald Trump’s decision to pull him back from his position as the world’s largest aid donor.
“Reducing the number of UN staff means fighting hunger, reducing education and survival measures for displaced people,” said Ian Richards, president of the UN Geneva Staff Union.
The Geneva rally, held at the national location in front of the UN building, comes two days after it announced that jobs must be cut primarily to cut funding from the US, warning that the cuts will have a serious impact on aid programs around the world.
Other agencies, such as UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Agency, and Ocha, a humanitarian agency, have announced or planned to announce cuts that will affect staff and about 20% of the overall budget.
The cuts in UN agencies underscore the impact of President Donald Trump’s decision to significantly reduce the amount the United States spends on international humanitarian aid.
Trump has empowered billionaire engineer Ellie Musk and his new government efficiency (DOGE) to reshape the size of the federal government, focusing on reducing foreign aid.
Even before the regime movement, many donor states reduced humanitarian spending, and UN agencies struggled to achieve funding goals.
The World Food Program, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, is expected to receive 46% of its US funding in 2024, cutting up to 30% of its staff.
One WFP official called The Cuts “largeest” seen by agents in 25 years, resulting in the business disappearing or shrinking.
United Nations spokesman Stephen Dujaric said Secretary General Antonio Guterres was “deeply plagued by dramatic funding cuts.”
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provides assistance to around 43.7 million refugees worldwide, out of 122 million people who have been forced out of their homes due to conflicts and natural disasters.
The agency head has announced plans to reduce its headquarters and regional offices, aiming to reduce costs by 30% and eliminate 50% of advanced-level positions.
In a statement, the agency said it “needs to significantly reduce the workforce,” including downsizing at headquarters and regional offices.
Meanwhile, UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, said it expects its funding will be at least 20% lower in 2025 compared to 2024.
“As some donors have significantly reduced financial support for UNICEF and our partners and have made more broadly less contributions to international aid, the hard-earned profits and future progress for future children are at risk,” a UNICEF spokesman said.
