The Trump administration has recently considered ending its relationship with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), according to sources familiar with the discussions. Diplomats and U.N. officials reportedly launched a lobbying effort to persuade Washington to continue supporting the agency, delaying or possibly preventing an immediate decision. While the U.S. State Department said there has been no change in its engagement with UNHCR, it confirmed that America continues to review its role in international organizations in line with a 2025 executive order.
The reported tensions stem partly from disagreements over the appointment of Tressa Rae Finerty as UNHCR’s deputy high commissioner. U.S.-backed candidate Simon Hankinson, who has criticized the agency’s migration policies, was not selected, leading to frustration among some officials. Sources said UNHCR feared it could face a U.S. funding blacklist and that Washington might also withdraw from the agency’s Executive Committee, prompting supporters to intensify diplomatic outreach.
The United States remains UNHCR’s largest donor, contributing $868 million in 2025—around one-quarter of the agency’s total funding. Aid officials and diplomats warned that a complete U.S. withdrawal would deepen the agency’s ongoing financial crisis, which has already forced significant job cuts and budget reductions. They also cautioned that reduced American support could weaken the global refugee protection system established under the 1951 Refugee Convention, with potentially far-reaching humanitarian consequences.
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