The United States remains the largest funder of the United Nations today and another $5 billion has been requested to fund UN operations in 2017.
The U.S. Department of State has requested $3.9 billion to fund the United Nations and “international organizations” which partially funds the full $5 billion requested by the United Nations and recommended by Ted Turner’s group, A Better World Foundation.
That amount represents an additional forty-one dollars that 122 million American taxpayers must pony up.
Following fallout from the UN’s resolution condemning Israel’s settlements in the West Bank, incoming President Donald Trump already has a few choice words for the United Nations that he expressed on Twitter:
The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2016
Even worse for the UN, Israeli officials plan to provide Trump and his team with “detailed, sensitive information” that uncovers the “covert” role that President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry played in drafting the resolution.
The federal government is currently funded through April 28, 2017 through a Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by the 114th Congress.
Trump would have the power to veto the 2017 Federal Budget if it includes funding for the United Nations.
Additionally, President-Elect Trump may use the power of “Impoundment” that gives him authority to rescind funds that have been already approved by Congress. However, the rescission must then be cleared by Congress, creating a never-ending fight to not spending money.
Before the Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Presidents enjoyed the liberty of not spending money that had been appropriated by Congress.
Thomas Jefferson was the first to use the power to prevent debt spending in 1801.
Donald Trump will have a number of options to cut funding to the United Nations . . . as well as other wasteful budget items that taxpayers are currently involuntarily funding.
Will Trump kill funding to the United Nations or maintain the status quo?
Do you want your forty-one dollars back? Comment below.
