DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Trump aid cuts threaten up to 30.000 jobs in Geneva
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Trump aid cuts threaten up to 30.000 jobs in Geneva

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

9 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in April 20239 things expats in Switzerland need to know about in April 2023
Protests planned at Swiss Tesla dealerships as support for US boycott growsProtests planned at Swiss Tesla dealerships as support for US boycott grows
Geneva moves to cut taxes for middle-income residentsGeneva moves to cut taxes for middle-income residents
Geneva moves to give young people free public transportGeneva moves to give young people free public transport
Golden toilet pops up in Zug to protest unfair taxationGolden toilet pops up in Zug to protest unfair taxation
Family allowance and social security in Geneva to be increased in 2023Family allowance and social security in Geneva to be increased in 2023
Switzerland plans 269-million franc rescue package to combat Trump cutsSwitzerland plans 269-million franc rescue package to combat Trump cuts
Super-rich threaten to leave Switzerland over inheritance tax proposalSuper-rich threaten to leave Switzerland over inheritance tax proposal
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Mar 11, 2025
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

Though Geneva is more than 6.500 kilometres away from Washington D.C, decisions made in the US capital are starting to have a dramatic impact on the city. Cantonal officials have noted an uptick in layoffs, as international organisations and NGOs brace for the impact of Donald Trump’s international aid cuts.

Cuts to American aid leave international organisations scrambling

Writing to the Tribune de Genève (TdG), the Geneva Cantonal Employment Office confirmed that it had started to receive requests from international organisations regarding group redundancies. They added that various humanitarian workers and NGOs based in the city have called them asking for financial advice and assistance.

The news follows the decision by US President Donald Trump to heavily reduce and, in most cases, scrap American funding of international organisations, charities and NGOs. 26 percent of all United Nations funding comes from the United States, and in some cases like the Global Fund and UNAIDS, American aid makes up 40 percent of the budget.

Switzerland's international city under threat from Trump aid cuts

Trump's aid cuts are expected to have a profound impact on Geneva, where around 30.000 workers rely upon the 750 NGOs and other international organisations that call the city home. “International Geneva, as a global centre for diplomacy, cooperation and multilateralism, is weakened. Hundreds of jobs are threatened following the withdrawal of American funding,” cantonal councillor Nathalie Fontanet told the TdG.

Various international structures like the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organisation are said to be heavily impacted by the cuts, all of whom are based in Geneva. For instance, around 5.000 people working for the IOM worldwide are expected to lose their jobs.

The intervention of the US Supreme Court in the American aid cuts has also left Genevan institutions in limbo. With funding suspended, many don’t know whether to maintain the course and wait for the money to return, or lay off staff in anticipation of the court finding in the president’s favour.

Officials in Geneva monitoring situation closely

Speaking to the newspaper, the head of information and the United Nations Office at Geneva, Alessandra Vellucci, said that while no layoffs had been announced yet, "The perpetuation of the liquidity crisis is affecting some of our programs. In addition, we continue to be very attentive to our expenses." Cost-saving measures, such as reducing official travel expenses and cutting down heating and air conditioning, have already been made at the Palais de Nations.

For their part, the employment office in Geneva said they were monitoring the situation very closely. The Swiss government is also set to propose a public-private fund which would help stabilise the finances of Geneva’s international institutions, though this will likely not arrive before the job cuts are already made.

Thumb image credit: Vlas Telino studio / Shutterstock.com

By Jan de Boer