Chumps no more! Nikki Haley puts her money where her mouth is, announces big cut to UN budget

Will Racke, DCNF

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: Nikki Haley, United States Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks on the floor of the General Assembly on December 21, 2017 in New York City. A vote is scheduled at the United Nations General Assembly today concerning Washington's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate its embassy there. The US, which alone vetoed a resolution put to the Security Council on the move to Jerusalem, cannot veto General Assembly motions, which require a simple majority to be adopted. The Trump administration has threatened to take action against any country that votes against the United States decision to move its embassy. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) — (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The United Nations has agreed on a 2018-2019 budget that includes a steep reduction in spending, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley announced over the weekend.

The upcoming biennial U.N. budget will drop by $285 billion — about 5 percent — from the 2016-2017 level, in what Haley says is a “big step in the right direction” toward making the U.N. more accountable.

“The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known,” she said in a statement Sunday night. “We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked.”

U.S. negotiators were seeking a $250 million cut to the U.N. budget for 2018-19, in addition to about $200 million in savings already proposed by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to Agence France-Presse. The U.S. provides about 22 percent of the U.N.’s biennial budget — roughly $1.2 billion — and about 28 percent of its funding for peacekeeping efforts.

Haley’s announcement comes a week after the U.N. general assembly passed a resolution denouncing President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and begin the process of moving the U.S. embassy there. Ahead of the vote, both Haley and Trump warned that the U.S. would keep the result in mind when deciding Washington’s future contributions to the U.N.

“We will remember it when we are called upon to once again make the world’s largest contribution to the United Nations,” Haley said at the time. “And we will remember it when so many countries come calling on us, as they so often do, to pay even more and to use our influence for their benefit.”

The final budget cut exceeds the $200 million reduction targeted by Guterres, who proposed capping the U.N. budget at $5.4 billion. Even after successfully trimming the 2018-2019 budget, Haley says the U.S. will look for other areas in which it can make additional cuts.

“While we are pleased with the results of this year’s budget negotiations, you can be sure we’ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN’s efficiency while protecting our interests,” she said.

Follow Will on Twitter

Send tips to will@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Freedom of speech isn’t free. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of TheDCNF. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.

For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!