World Humanitarian Day marked at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Aug. 19, 2024. A new report has revealed who in the US government sent questionnaires to UN Geneva organizations and nonprofit groups asking about their political loyalties. UN GENEVA
Confidential documents reveal the political ideologies of those behind the controversial survey distributed to organizations in Geneva recently. Meanwhile, unease grows in Geneva, as the UN Refugee Agency considers laying off up to 6,000 employees.
The questionnaire sent by the Trump administration to UN agencies, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations continues to stir controversy across Geneva’s international community. The nature of the questions, revealed last week, drew outrage over their glaring disconnect from the realities of multilateralism. One inquired: “Can you confirm your organisation does not collaborate with entities associated with communism, socialism, totalitarianism, or any other entity espousing anti-American beliefs?”
The architects of the questionnaire are Peter Marocco and Andrew Veprek — Trump loyalists and close associates of Stephen Miller, instigator of the White House’s draconian immigration policy, the newsletter #Trump, Acte 2, authored by international Geneva and US affairs reporter Philippe Mottaz and the writer of this article, revealed on Friday.
Marocco allegedly took part in the pro-Trump US Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021, but faced no legal repercussions. He was appointed by Trump to lead the dismantlement of the US development agency, USAID, until recently.
Previously undisclosed documents, seen by Mottaz, reveal the methods of the Trump administration that underpin the questionnaire. The documents show that Marocco’s aim is “the absolute determination of the American administration to unilaterally and without negotiation impose its ‘America First’ doctrine globally.”
The questionnaire was hastily prepared so that the US State Department could rapidly collect and analyze responses with artificial intelligence. One UN agency employee in Geneva expressed disbelief: “Is AI going to determine the fate of international Geneva? It’s unbelievable.”
Geneva’s anxiety is matched in New York. Diplomats and international civil servants had initially hoped that the US president would limit himself to a few symbolic gestures. In an opinion piece that breaks with his usual measured response, Richard Gowan, director of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group in Manhattan, can hardly hide his alarm: “Two months later (since Trump took office – ed.), UN insiders admit that the new administration has done far more harm to the institution than they had expected. And they worry that it will do even greater damage before long.”
Early retirement at WHO
In Geneva, Gowan’s remarks resonate deeply and add to growing fears that the city’s international network could significantly erode or even outright crumble. Last Friday, US media outlet Devex suggested that the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, could gut up to 6,000 jobs. Until now, Washington covered about 39.8 per cent of the agency’s funding. When contacted, spokesperson Matthew Saltmarsh could not confirm the full extent of the damage: “Several officials are currently reviewing UNHCR operations thoroughly. While at this stage, 400 jobs are certainly at risk, we cannot provide a more precise figure. But it will be much higher. Even though we’ve benefited from some exemptions, our programmes have already been significantly impacted.”
The World Health Organization has not yet issued precise layoff projections. However, spokesperson Carla Drysdale confirmed the UN agency has already decided to freeze hiring except for critical roles, significantly reduce travel, renegotiate procurement contracts, offer early retirement options from age 55 and not replace retiring staff. The WHO employs 9,473 people globally, including 2,666 in Geneva. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has announced it will cut 20 percent of over 1,000 headquarters staff.
This article was originally published in Le Temps.
Stephane Bussard
Stéphane Bussard has been a journalist with the Swiss daily newspaper Le Temps since February 2000, where he is in charge of the Geneva International section. He has reported extensively from Lebanon, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Russia, Cuba and the United States. He is also the winner of the 2010 Nicolas Bouvier Prize. https://x.com/StephaneBussard