Archive · 22 Aug 2026
Trump Administration Plans $850 Million U.N. Dues Payment
The United States owes the United Nations billions of dollars in unpaid dues.
The Trump administration plans to pay $850 million of that debt.
Most of the money would support the U.N.’s regular budget.
Some would help peacekeeping missions in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The U.S. still would owe about $5 billion afterward.
In February, the U.S. paid $160 million.
The U.N. had warned that its finances could collapse if countries did not pay.
Some Republicans say the planned payment should come with stronger changes to how the U.N. works.
The U.S. plans to pay $850 million toward its United Nations obligations.
The proposed payment includes $725 million for the regular U.N. budget and $125 million for peacekeeping in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The United Nations says the U.S. still owes about $5 billion in membership-related dues.
The payment follows a February transfer of $160 million and a warning from António Guterres about possible financial collapse.
Some Republican lawmakers criticized the plan for not addressing concerns about U.N. staffing, ideology and aid to Palestinian refugees.
- Who
- The U.S. government, the Trump administration, the United Nations and Republican lawmakers.
- What
- The United States notified Congress of plans to pay $850 million toward its unpaid U.N. dues.
- When
- The notifications were sent August 4; the administration also made a $160 million payment in February.
- Where
- The payments concern the United Nations, including peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Why
- The payment follows the U.N.’s warning of imminent financial collapse and the administration’s demands for institutional reforms.
U.N. Funding Supporters
Republican Critics
Whether the payment is necessary
U.N. Funding Supporters
The United Nations warned that it faced imminent financial collapse unless members paid their dues or its financial rules were overhauled.
Republican Critics
Republican critics argue that the planned appropriations do not sufficiently address the administration’s concerns about the U.N.
Conditions for continued support
U.N. Funding Supporters
The payment would help cover U.S. obligations and support the U.N. regular budget and peacekeeping operations.
Republican Critics
The Trump administration and its allies seek sweeping changes, including action on what they describe as bloated staffing and ideological positions.
Aid to Palestinian refugees
U.N. Funding Supporters
The notifications allocate funds to the regular U.N. budget and specified peacekeeping operations.
Republican Critics
A Republican congressional aide said the plan did not appear strong enough regarding the withholding of U.S. assistance to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.
- Planned payment
- $850 million
- Regular U.N. budget
- $725 million
- Peacekeeping allocation
- $125 million for operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Estimated U.S. arrears
- About $5 billion
- Regular-budget arrears
- More than $2 billion
- Peacekeeping arrears
- About $3 billion
- Previous February payment
- $160 million