WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government has informed Congress of its intention to make an $850 million payment to the United Nations, marking the largest contribution from the Trump administration since it demanded major reforms in return for ongoing support as the UN's primary donor. This payment consists of $725 million towards the regular UN budget and $125 million for UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as specified in notifications sent to lawmakers this month.
The United States is currently behind on approximately $5 billion in dues related to its UN membership, which includes over $2 billion owed to the regular budget and about $3 billion for peacekeeping initiatives, according to the United Nations. Earlier this year, in February, the Trump administration made a modest payment of $160 million following a warning from UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the imminent financial collapse of the organization unless reforms were implemented or all 193 member nations paid their dues.
Throughout the past year and a half, President Donald Trump and his supporters have called for significant changes within the UN, causing concern among humanitarian workers and leading to substantial cuts in various programs and services. Trump has consistently criticized the UN for failing to achieve its potential. Notably, his administration opted not to make any payments to the UN in 2025 and withdrew from key UN organizations, notably the World Health Organization and the cultural agency UNESCO. Furthermore, funding has been cut from numerous other agencies within the UN structure.
The notifications sent on August 4th, which were first reported by Reuters, encountered initial resistance from some Republican members of Congress. They argued that the plans do not adequately address the issues raised by the Trump administration regarding what it describes as excessive staffing and ideological positions of the UN that conflict with Trump's anti-woke initiatives. A Republican congressional aide, who requested anonymity, noted that the notifications seemed insufficient concerning the withholding of U.S. assistance to the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees.
The U.S. mission to the United Nations did not provide an immediate comment regarding the congressional notifications. This ongoing discourse highlights a complicated relationship between the U.S. and the United Nations during the Trump administration, marked by calls for reforms and budgetary disputes as the U.S. navigates its role on the international stage.
