ILO Staff Fear Job Losses as US Proposes $107M Funding Cut

The Trump administration has proposed a $107 million funding cut to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), a Geneva-based UN agency that promotes international labour rights. This cut is part of a broader unilateral cancellation of $4.9 billion in foreign aid authorized by Congress for various international programs. The US contributes 22% of the ILO's regular budget and has yet to pay its 2024 and 2025 dues, raising concerns about the financial impact on the agency, including potential job losses. ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo expressed uncertainty about the full implications of the cut and is seeking clarification from the US administration. Staff at the ILO are also upset by a White House statement accusing the organization of working to unionize foreign workers and punish US corporate interests abroad, which they say misrepresents the ILO's values. The Trump administration plans to enforce the cuts through a "pocket rescission," a tactic that bypasses Congress.