Trump to sign executive order on US withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council - Politico
Photo: US President Donald Trump (GettyImages)
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, will soon sign an executive order on the US withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council and a ban on further funding for the UN agency providing aid to Gaza, Politico informs.
According to the news agency, these actions will restore Trump's policy from his previous term. Politico notes that the US has long accused the UN Human Rights Council of biased treatment of Israel and of shielding governments that violate human rights.
In addition, the Trump administration has questioned the future of the US Agency for International Development, which also promotes human rights abroad, due to concerns about whether it aligns with the president's America First policy and how funds are spent.
At the same time, the White House told Politico that the Council "has not fulfilled its purpose and continues to be used as a protective body for countries committing horrific human rights violations," and condemned its stance on Israel.
"The UNHRC has demonstrated consistent bias against Israel, focusing on it unfairly and disproportionately in council proceedings. In 2018, the year President Trump withdrew from the UNHRC in his first administration, the organization passed more resolutions condemning Israel than Syria, Iran, and North Korea combined," the statement reads.
US has suspended foreign aid grants
The United States is the world’s largest financial aid donor, allocating $72 billion in the 2023 fiscal year. However, on January 21, US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day suspension of all foreign aid programs for review to ensure their alignment with his foreign policy.
This decision caused confusion among US lawmakers, humanitarian organizations, and the UN, but on January 24, the US State Department issued an official order to "cease operations" of all existing foreign aid programs and suspend the issuance of new grants.
The State Department also halted programs for demining unexploded ordnance, and USAID's branch in Ukraine temporarily stopped funding projects. This pause in foreign aid is even more stringent than Trump’s policy during his first presidential term (2017–2021). Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been given the authority to make exceptions and has already approved emergency food assistance.
