Mike Waltz, former national security adviser under Trump, outlined his plans to reform the United Nations during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Waltz is seeking to become the U.S. ambassador to the international organization, filling the last remaining Cabinet position in Trump’s administration.
During the hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Waltz presented a critical view of the UN, describing it as an ineffective and overly political organization that has strayed from its original purpose of maintaining world peace. This comes as Waltz has faced internal criticism within the White House about his performance as national security adviser.
Waltz criticized what he called “radical politicization” of the body, pointing to UN reports about racism in U.S. law enforcement and land seizures from Native Americans. He emphasized that while the UN should be “one place in the world where everyone can talk,” it has moved away from its “core mission of peacemaking” over its 80-year history.
Plans to reduce UN funding raise concerns about U.S. influence
The Trump administration is seeking to withdraw approximately $1 billion in federal funding to the UN as part of a larger $10 billion federal funds reduction package. This decision comes at a time when the international organization is already facing significant financial difficulties.
Waltz specifically questioned the necessity of multiple UN bodies focused on climate change and environmental protection. His security-focused approach comes in concerns about his own communication security practices in previous government roles. During the hearing, he referenced a list of 455 UN entities receiving U.S. funding, suggesting that many might be unnecessary. As the largest financial contributor to the UN, providing more than 25 percent of its overall budget, the U.S. could use this position as leverage for reform, according to Waltz.
Former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at confirmation hearing to be @UN Ambassador: "I'm confident under this president's leadership, we can continue to spread peace and prosperity, and I'm confident we can make the U.N. great again." pic.twitter.com/iy6Hqw3gEc
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 15, 2025
The former Army Green Beret also expressed strong concerns about antisemitism at the UN, citing the high number of resolutions passed against Israel in the General Assembly. He also mentioned reports of UN Palestinian aid agency staff members participating in Hamas-led attacks on Israel in 2023. Waltz called for the defunding and dismantling of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, suggesting its humanitarian work should be transferred to other organizations.
Democratic senators, including Chris Coons from Delaware, questioned how the administration planned to maintain its influence while reducing its contributions to the international body. They also raised concerns about the administration’s decisions to dismantle USAID and the Global Engagement Center, which was responsible for countering Russian and Chinese disinformation. Additionally, Waltz pledged to challenge China’s growing influence at the UN, though specific strategies were not detailed during the hearing.
