US President Donald Trump’s administration of has suspended membership payments to the United Nations (UN), as it awaits reforms within the organization, recalled the United States representative to the UN, Mike Waltz.

“The President is withholding American funding until we see the reforms,” he said in an interview with Breitbart News.

According to Waltz, under US pressure, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has agreed to reduce the organization’s global budget by 15%, which implies an 18% cut in staff and a 25% reduction in the number of peacekeepers.

“I think we’re going to save it [i.e. the UN] from itself in many ways, and we’re going to drive change,” the American diplomat added.

The UN is facing a budget deficit due to the failure of several countries, including the US, to pay their membership fees, delaying transfers of about $3 billion. This situation is forcing the organization to cut expenses, freeze hiring, and reduce humanitarian programs, including aid to children and refugees.