U.S. considers breaking ties with UNHCR
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has considered breaking ties with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) due to the refusal to appoint the candidate proposed by Washington to the post of deputy to Barham Salih, who headed the agency at the beginning of 2026.
This was reported by Reuters, citing numerous sources among diplomats, representatives of humanitarian organizations, and in the U.S. Congress.
According to their information, Washington's statement on breaking ties with UNHCR was expected last week. In particular, the agency informed its supporters that it "may be included in the U.S. 'blacklist,' which will lead to the cessation of funding," as well as that Washington may withdraw from the organization's governing Executive Committee. According to the agency's interlocutors, the fact that no such statements followed "suggests that lobbying efforts may have helped delay or prevent this step."
According to Reuters, the reason for the conflict was the appointment of American diplomat Tressa Ray Finerty to the post of deputy high commissioner for refugees instead of Simon Hankinson, who was supported by Washington. The latter had previously criticized the agency, accusing UNHCR of promoting a "mass migration agenda," and stated that he could return the organization to its original mission. According to a former senior official of the agency, supporting Hankinson's candidacy could have caused an internal revolt at UNHCR.
According to the agency's data, in 2025 the United States became its largest donor, allocating $868 million, which amounted to about a quarter of the total contributions to the organization. Reuters notes that UNHCR is already feeling the financial consequences of a reduction in available funding last year by almost 30% compared to 2024. Thus, the agency had to cut thousands of jobs and announced further cuts this year. Reuters sources warn that a full U.S. withdrawal from UNHCR will exacerbate the organization's crisis and undermine the international refugee protection system. A former senior official of the agency called such a scenario an existential threat to the organization.
In 2025, President Trump already announced the U.S. withdrawal and the cessation of funding by Washington for a number of organizations within the UN system, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). At the beginning of 2026, the American leader ordered the U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations that no longer serve American interests. The list included 31 UN structures, including the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the UN structure on gender equality "UN Women."
