The Trump administration has fallen behind on about $10 million in payments to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), creating an estimated 22% operating budget shortfall that has frozen senior hiring. IRENA, headquartered in Abu Dhabi with roughly 175 staff and 170 member states plus the EU, is now seeking private funding after the US announced withdrawal from 66 international organizations. Despite the funding squeeze, renewables accounted for 92% of new global power capacity last year and roughly 700 GW are expected in 2026.
US Withholds $10M, Creating Major Budget Hole for Abu Dhabi-Based IRENA
The Trump administration has fallen behind on roughly $10 million in payments to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), leaving the Abu Dhabi-based organization to confront a significant budget shortfall that has disrupted hiring and operations, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The unpaid balance includes about $5 million in dues for 2025, and the United States is not expected to make its regular annual contribution for the current year, the source said on condition of anonymity. That gap represents approximately a 22% shortfall in IRENA's operating budget and has prompted the agency to pause senior-level hires and rely more heavily on interns and junior staff to fill roles.
IRENA's Role and Response
With roughly 175 staff, IRENA works with some 170 member countries plus the European Union to accelerate deployment of renewable energy worldwide, with a focus on expanding wind and solar in emerging economies and providing policy advice and market analysis. The agency established its headquarters in Abu Dhabi in 2015 after the UAE won the bid to host it.
“Membership withdrawal takes effect at the end of the year in which it is expressed and shall not affect contractual or financial obligations for the year in which it withdraws,” an IRENA spokesperson told reporters.
An IRENA official, Director-General Francesco La Camera, said the agency is now seeking private funding following the US announcement. The United States at the beginning of the year said it would withdraw from 66 international organizations, many of them related to climate action, according to a White House fact sheet.
The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Context: Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the Global Energy Picture
IRENA's members are meeting this week in what serves as the unofficial kickoff to Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), expected to draw about 50,000 participants including energy executives, policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs. This year’s theme, The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go, highlights a mix of optimism for renewables and pragmatic attention to rising global energy demand.
Despite IRENA's financial strain, the momentum for clean energy remains strong: IRENA reports that renewable technologies made up 92% of new power generation capacity added globally last year, and roughly 700 gigawatts of new capacity are expected to come online in 2026. Observers note that, while investment in fossil fuels continues in some regions, the transition toward renewables retains significant growth prospects.
Implications
The US withdrawal and withheld payments raise questions about short-term capacity at IRENA to support policy and project work—particularly in emerging economies where private capital may be harder to mobilize. Still, analysts and diplomats suggest Abu Dhabi is unlikely to allow an organization hosted in its territory to fail, and IRENA's pivot to private fundraising could partially offset the loss of US public funds.
For further reading, the White House fact sheet outlines the list of organizations from which the US is withdrawing, and outlets including NPR have examined potential impacts of the move.
Help us improve.
