‘Do you have communist links?’ US sends 36 questions to UN aid groups
UN aid agencies have been sent by the United States to declare whether they have “anti-American” beliefs or affiliation.
In 36 questions on this form seen by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the BBC, ask if they have any connection to communism.
Some of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations have received questionnaires, including the United Nations Refugee Service and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The Trump administration has launched a boost to cost-cutting under the U.S. government led by billionaire Elon Musk and shut down most of its foreign aid.
The United Nations Organization is concerned that the OMB’s move is a sign of the United States’ plan to abandon humanitarian work altogether and even the United Nations itself.
The United States withdrew from the World Health Organization on the first day of Donald Trump’s second term.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced this week that the vast majority of cases in the USAID program have been terminated.
The investigation shows this Most Americans think this country is overspending About foreign aid.
The U.S. puts its GDP percentage below aid countries, but due to its massive economy
Many of the UN aid agencies sending this form receive funding not only from the United States Agency for International Development, but directly from the U.S. government.
A question asked: “Can you confirm that your organization does not cooperate with entities related to communist, socialist or totalitarian parties or any party that advocates anti-American beliefs? ”
Another asked the agency to confirm that they would not receive any funding from China, Russia, Cuba or Iran – those countries may not be Washington’s best friends, but like all 193 UN member states, they fund large humanitarian agencies.
Other issues require assistance agencies to ensure that no projects include any elements of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) or anything related to climate change.
For institutions like UNICEF, this could be embarrassing, with UNICEF supporting equal access to education for girls or the World Food Program trying to transition to more climate-resilient crops by supporting drought-affected communities.
Professor Karl Blanchet of the Center for Humanitarian Studies at the University of Geneva believes that the aid agency is being established failed: “A decision has been made. The United States will likely prevent it from participating in any UN system.
“This is multilateralism with the United States first – it’s both ends of the spectrum.”
Aid agencies engaged in complex humanitarian operations are more outspoken.
A frustrated aid worker said: “It’s like being asked ‘Do you stop beating the kids?’
The United Nations has chosen not to fill out the form.
A spokesperson told the BBC: “Given that they are mainly Yes/No issues, their detailed space is very limited and some of the issues do not apply to the United Nations, we cannot respond directly to the online questionnaire.”
“Instead, we provided the response via email and explained the questions we could provide the answer.”
Some issues also reflect the economic interests of President Trump’s administration.
There is a question about projects that could impact “efforts to strengthen U.S. supply chains or secure rare earth minerals.”
The BBC has approached OMB and the United States missions at the United Nations in New York and the United Nations in Geneva.
