The United Nations said it is waiting to learn how much of the nearly $4 billion owed by the United States the Trump administration intends to pay, and when the funds will be transferred.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week that the world body faces an “imminent financial collapse” unless member states pay their dues or the organization overhauls its financial rules, a message widely seen as directed at Washington, the UN’s largest contributor.
The United States owes $2.196 billion to the UN’s regular operating budget, including $767 million for the current year, according to a UN official. It also owes about $1.8 billion to the UN’s peacekeeping budget, with arrears expected to grow.
The US Mission to the United Nations confirmed that Ambassador Mike Waltz has said the Trump administration plans to make a significant initial payment toward the arrears within weeks, though the final amount has yet to be determined. His remarks were first reported by Reuters.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Secretary-General Guterres has been in contact with Waltz “for quite some time” and that the UN’s controller has also been engaging with US officials.
“We’re waiting to see exactly when payments will be made and in what amount,” Dujarric told reporters.
In a letter to member states last week, Guterres warned that cash for the UN’s regular budget could be exhausted by July, potentially disrupting operations across the organization.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations, saying it has failed to live up to its potential. His administration made no payments to the UN in 2025 and has withdrawn from several UN bodies, including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, while cutting funding to dozens of others.
UN officials say about 95% of the arrears owed to the organization’s regular budget are attributable to the United States.
