IOM CUTS | Millions of people and hundreds of staff impacted by US aid cuts, UN migration agency says

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency focused on migration, has reported significant impacts from U.S. aid cuts as of March 19, 2025. These funding reductions, amounting to roughly $1.1 billion, have forced the IOM to scale back or terminate numerous projects globally, affecting millions of vulnerable migrants and displacing over 6,000 staff members worldwide. The cuts, part of a broader 30% reduction in donor funding—primarily driven by the United States, which previously provided over 40% of IOM’s budget—have disrupted critical humanitarian efforts.

Among the affected initiatives are food and healthcare programs for Rohingya refugees in Thailand, emergency aid for over 40,000 people hit by conflict and cyclones in Mozambique, and cholera prevention and medical care in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where millions are displaced due to conflict and famine. A U.S.-based program reuniting trafficking victims with their families has also been halted. The IOM has highlighted that these cuts exacerbate humanitarian crises at a time when global displacement is at historic levels, yet resources to address its root causes are dwindling.

To cope, the IOM is restructuring, including reducing its Geneva headquarters staff by about 20% (over 250 positions) and shifting roles to lower-cost regional offices. While the agency aims to maintain frontline assistance, the loss of over 6,000 staff—roughly 28% of its global workforce—underscores the scale of the challenge. The IOM has expressed deep concern for both the affected communities and its dedicated employees, many of whom have served for years, as it navigates this unprecedented financial strain.