FIRST ON FOX: The Trump administration’s use of Elon Musk’s DOGE to reduce USAID spending is significantly affecting the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), as revealed in internal U.N. emails obtained by Fox News Digital.
In an email sent early Friday, Milan Victor Dawoh, president of the U.N. Field Staff Union, stated that the reduction in USAID funding led to an “approximate loss of $30 million” from the extra-budgetary (XB) resources, resulting in substantial staffing cuts.
Dawoh’s email cautions that the U.N. is facing its most severe liquidity crisis since its inception, with expectations that the situation will worsen before any recovery occurs.
He mentioned that UNDSS will be forced to eliminate 100 positions and its operations will cease in 35 to 45 countries, while “regional hubs” will be established in the remaining 120 nations where UNDSS will maintain a presence.
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The email notes that the under secretary-general of UNDSS highlighted that the unit is not a protection agency, but rather a risk management and analysis entity, a distinction that should be communicated clearly to staff.
The Department’s website describes UNDSS as a “global leader in security risk management principles” that facilitates the safe delivery of U.N. programs in the most challenging environments while maximizing resources.
Fox News Digital inquired with Dawoh about the email’s authenticity and how much of the UNDSS budget was sourced from USAID but did not receive a response.
Earlier this month, António Guterres expressed concerns regarding cuts to U.S. funding at the U.N., stating that such reductions would lead to a “less healthy, less safe, and less prosperous” world.
Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, informed Fox News Digital that UNDSS received approximately $20 million from USAID last year. He noted, “USAID has indicated that some funding has been terminated, while other projects will continue to receive support.”
While Dawoh’s email suggests that the funding loss is linked to the cut in extra-budgetary resources, Haq clarified that “extra budgetary funding from USAID constitutes a relatively small portion of the Department’s budget, with the majority coming from the U.N. regular budget, a U.N. cost-sharing mechanism, and the peace support account.”
According to Haq, UNDSS employs 2,250 personnel worldwide, “supporting the security of — and enabling operations by — 180,000 U.N. personnel.” He emphasized that a large portion of the Department’s workforce operates in the field, with a significantly smaller number based at U.N. headquarters in New York. U.N. personnel stationed in the world’s most perilous regions require effective security to perform their life-saving missions.
Haq also mentioned that an email circulated on March 19 regarding the funding-related closure of a staff entrance at U.N. headquarters was not related to UNDSS, explaining that “Funding for the UNHQ premises does not come from USAID;” instead, the temporary closure was attributed to several member states failing to pay their dues.
A U.N. source, who requested anonymity, reported that amid financial instability, U.N. staff members are “very fearful for their immediate future.” Concerns raised include issues with pension collections and access to their United Nations Federal Credit Union accounts. The source indicated that the impending layoffs would mostly affect staff on G-4 visas, potentially impacting their ability to remain in the U.S.
“The ramifications extend beyond the loss of individual jobs; it affects families, and the upcoming cuts could have significant consequences for U.N. agencies.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for clarification on how the layoffs would impact employees but did not receive a response.
Calls for U.N. reform have intensified following President Donald Trump signing an executive order last month to review U.N. funding. Trump remarked that the world body “holds tremendous potential” yet is “not being well run.”
