President Donald Trump and Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley during a high-level meeting on UN reform convened by the US on Sept. 18. Photo: UN Photo / Mark Garten.

JNS.org – The US announced Sunday that it will cut $285 million from its funding to the United Nations for the 2018 and 2019 fiscal years.

“In addition to these significant cost savings, we reduced the UN’s bloated management and support functions, bolstered support for key US priorities throughout the world, and instilled more discipline and accountability throughout the UN system,” said a statement released by the US Mission to the UN.

The announcement of the budget cut came after the UN General Assembly last week overwhelmingly approved a resolution denouncing President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The 193-member General Assembly voted 128-9, with 35 abstentions, to express “deep regret” over Trump’s Jerusalem policy changes, which also include plans to move the US embassy to that city.

The US budget cut falls in line with one of the Trump administration’s goals of reducing American financial contributions to the world body. The US currently funds 22 percent of the UN’s annual budget with a contribution of around $3.3 billion per year.

“The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known,” said US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley. “We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked.”

“This historic reduction in spending — in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN — is a big step in the right direction,” she added.