Archive · 23 Aug 2026
US Announces $850 Million Payment Toward Outstanding UN Dues
The United States owes the United Nations several billion dollars in unpaid dues.
It says it plans to pay $850 million.
Most of that money would support the United Nations’ regular budget, while some would fund peacekeeping missions.
The payment would be the largest one made by the Trump administration to the organization.
US officials said more payments depend on the United Nations continuing reforms.
The United Nations has warned that unpaid contributions are creating a serious financial problem.
If the United States does not pay more, it could lose its vote in the General Assembly.
The United States and China are both among the largest contributors, but neither has paid all its dues.
The United States plans to pay $850 million toward outstanding United Nations dues.
The proposed payment includes $725 million for the regular budget and $125 million for peacekeeping in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The United States reportedly owes more than $4 billion, while some estimates put its total outstanding dues at roughly $5 billion.
A US official said payments depend on continued United Nations reforms, including reported budget cuts of nearly $1 billion.
Failure to make further payments could put the United States at risk of losing its General Assembly voting rights in January.
- Who
- The United States, the United Nations, US President Donald Trump, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
- What
- The United States announced plans to make an $850 million payment toward outstanding United Nations dues.
- When
- The plan was described in an August 4 State Department notification; a cited UN payment report was dated August 18, 2026, and Trump was expected to address the General Assembly the following month.
- Where
- The payment concerns the United Nations and its peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Trump was expected to speak in New York.
- Why
- The payment is intended to address US arrears, while US officials tied further payments to continued United Nations reforms.
US Position
UN Concerns
Conditions for payment
US Position
US officials said payments would be contingent on continued reforms at the United Nations, including reported budget reductions of nearly $1 billion.
UN Concerns
The United Nations needs member-state contributions to fund its regular operations and peacekeeping missions.
Financial situation
US Position
The United States has criticized the United Nations for not living up to its potential and has reduced funding to some of its agencies.
UN Concerns
Antonio Guterres warned that the organization faced imminent financial collapse because member states had not paid their contributions.
Effect of the proposed payment
US Position
The United States said the planned transfer reflects major reforms and would be its largest payment to the United Nations during the Trump administration.
UN Concerns
The proposed $725 million for the regular budget would represent less than 20 percent of the more than $4 billion the United Nations said the United States owed in May, leaving substantial arrears.
- Planned payment
- $850 million
- Regular United Nations budget
- $725 million
- Peacekeeping allocation
- $125 million for operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Reported US arrears
- More than $4 billion, or roughly $5 billion according to another estimate
- US regular-budget contribution
- About 22 percent
- Potential consequence of nonpayment
- The United States could lose its General Assembly voting rights in January if its arrears remain above the two-year threshold
- United Nations membership payments
- About 129 of 193 member states had paid in full as of August 18, 2026