A polar bear is captured in a drone video taken by a third party at a former Soviet research facility on Kolyuchin Island, September 14, 2025. [Instagram @makhorov/Handout via REUTERS / MANDATORY CREDIT / Third-party provided photo / Credit must be attributed] 2025.10.10.

The Donald Trump administration in the United States is considering spending $50 million (71 billion won) on Greenland polar bear conservation and $25 million (36 billion won) on Nepal snow leopard protection, The Washington Post (WP) reported on the 9th (local time).

This is a significant departure from the Trump administration's policy of drastically cutting humanitarian aid and nature conservation budgets, moving away from its "America First" stance, the WP noted.

The WP reported that, based on internal emails from the State Department it obtained and reviewed, the department was actively drafting these budget proposals as of mid-September.

This move was entirely unexpected by diplomats from the US and other countries, elected officials, and scientists involved in animal protection efforts, the WP pointed out.

It is particularly noteworthy that President Trump had previously expressed his intention to purchase Greenland, a territory of Denmark, or annex it to the United States in other ways.

In a statement sent to the WP, the State Department explained, "It is very difficult to justify this project as being in the U.S. national interest, but the department is complying with relevant laws, and since we cannot change the FY2024 budget allocation, we are seeking creative solutions that comply with the law while also serving U.S. strategic goals."

'FY2024' refers to the 'fiscal year 2024,' which runs from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024.

The State Department further stated that one of the goals of pursuing this project is to "seize an opportunity to strengthen economic and diplomatic relations with key partners" to advance President Trump's foreign policy objectives, "even though we are obliged to adhere to the appropriations mandated by Congress."

A polar bear at the Leningrad Zoo. TASS, St. Petersburg = Yonhap News.

However, given that the Trump administration has already arbitrarily canceled existing congressionally appropriated programs, disregarding the intentions of lawmakers, it is difficult to take the State Department's explanation at face value, some argue.

For example, in August of this year, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) cut nearly $5 billion (7 trillion won) in foreign aid that had already been enacted into law, to which Republican Senator Susan Collins (Maine), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, responded, "This is a clear violation of the law."

Researchers who have been involved in Greenland polar bear conservation efforts are perplexed by the proposed project budget of $50 million currently under review by the State Department, describing it as too large, the WP reported.

Their reaction is that it is an enormous sum, with many more zeros than they have ever received in funding, and they are unsure if it is even possible to spend it all.

The annual polar bear research budget for the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, which investigates the wildlife of Greenland, is $500,000 (700 million won), most of which is funded by the Danish government.

Prior to this, the Trump administration had drastically canceled foreign aid projects, including those worth tens of millions of dollars used for medical supplies to Sudan, which is experiencing a civil war, and food aid to Gaza, where food shortages have worsened due to Israeli blockades.

The Greenland polar bear conservation and Nepal snow leopard protection projects are to be funded from the remaining balance of approximately $2 billion (2.8 trillion won) in programs managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Trump administration effectively forced the closure of USAID programs in February of this year, freezing its operations.

Since USAID is an institution established by law passed by Congress, its official dissolution requires legislative action from Congress. However, President Trump declared the dissolution of USAID without going through the legal process of amending or repealing laws.

Yonhap News