Jeffrey Bartos, President Trump's nominee to serve as the United States representative to the United Nations for management and reform, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 9 that he will press for greater accountability and for U.S. priorities in UN spending if confirmed.

Bartos said American taxpayers "deserve transparency and accountability for the funding we provide to the UN and a commitment that their money is not funding waste, fraud, or abuse," and said he would work to "streamline the UN budget, reduce staff footprint, and push for more equitable burden sharing among member states."

The hearing placed reform and fiscal stewardship at the center of discussion. Bartos outlined priorities including eliminating overlap in UN programs, ensuring peacekeeping mandates have clear exit strategies, and increasing American staffing at senior UN posts. "American citizens bring our values to their work in the UN system, and are one of our best defenses against nations that seek to exploit and manipulate the UN for their own interests," he said.

Senators asked how Bartos would work with Congress and whether he would support regular engagement on reform. Bartos committed to working with the committee if confirmed: "I can strongly commit and if confirmed, look forward to working with the committee, to address all of these issues," he said. He also said he would press for rigorous review of peacekeeping effectiveness and for burden sharing by other contributors.

Committee members repeatedly raised concerns that UN institutions have grown inefficient, are politicized, and at times reflect anti‑Israel bias. Senators asked Bartos how to balance reform with continued U.S. engagement so that withdrawal or sharp funding cuts would not simply cede influence to adversaries. Bartos said presidential leadership, State Department support and an active U.S. presence at bodies such as the Fifth Committee were essential to drive change.

The hearing also covered staffing strategy: Bartos pointed to prior administration efforts to increase American representation in UN leadership positions and said, if confirmed, he would continue to support identification and placement of qualified Americans in the UN system.

No committee vote took place at the hearing; the session focused on testimony and questioning. The record for the hearing will remain open for members to submit written questions.