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The US administration sent questionnaires to United Nations humanitarian agencies, asking them to answer whether they had "anti-American" beliefs or affiliations.
Among the 36 questions on the forms, sent by the US Office of Management and Budget (OMB), one was: do you have any connections to communism?
The questionnaire was received by some of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, including the UN Refugee Agency and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the BBC reports.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched a campaign to reduce federal government costs.
It also suspended most of its previous foreign aid.
UN groups fear the move is a sign that the US is planning to completely shut down humanitarian work or even the UN itself.
The US withdrew from the World Health Organization on the first day of Trump's second presidential term.
Earlier this week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the vast majority of U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs have been suspended.
Polls show that most Americans believe the country spends too much on foreign aid.
The US spends a lower percentage of GDP on aid than European countries, but, because of its large economy, it still provides 40 percent of global funding for humanitarian agencies.
Many of the UN humanitarian agencies to which the form was sent receive funding not only from USAID, but directly from the US government.
"Can you confirm that your organization does not work with entities affiliated with communist, socialist, or totalitarian parties, or any party that espouses anti-American beliefs?" is one of the questions on the form.
UN agencies are also required to confirm that they do not receive funding from China, Russia, Cuba or Iran.
The form requires UN aid agencies to ensure that no project includes elements of DEI (diversity, equality and inclusion) or anything related to climate change.
Aid agencies working on complex humanitarian operations are in an even more difficult position.
"It's like asking 'have you stopped beating your child, yes or no?'" said one aid worker.
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