Perspectives on budget cuts and reform, June 2025

19/06/2025

This report analyses a series of documents published by humanitarian actors in response to the massive budget cuts that have occurred since early 2025, following the cessation of USAID funding on 24 January 2025. The analysis covers 147 documents (86 from OCHA and the UN Secretary-General, 61 other newsletters) published between January 2024 and June 2025 in order to identify developments in discourse, using a methodology combining content analysis and critical discourse analysis. The aim of this piece is not to “judge” on the positions of the various actors, but to understand how different groups are both understanding and positioning themselves in relation to the budget cuts and reforms underway, and thereby, what divergences or convergences are emerging between international NGOs, UN agencies, research centres and networks in the Global South.