US Plans $725M UN Payment as Billions in Unpaid Dues Mount
Synopsis
The Trump administration has told Congress it intends to make the payment, but the funds have not yet been transferred and will depend on continued reforms at the United Nations, a US official said.
US plans $725 million for the United Nations, State Department advised Congress to appropriate the money for this purpose, and the Treasury has presented the disbursement details to the President. The notification was issued on Aug. 4, but there were no payments through Aug. 21, Reuters noted.
The States allotted $725 million for its UN payment, while Washington challenges the UN's estimate of its debts. In May, the UN estimated that the US owed over $4 billion, but US officials indicated the figure was lower and payments made towards this debt.
$850 Million Package Includes Peacekeeping Funding
The US is set to give $725 million for the UN, which is part of a larger $850 million sum for which the authorities had formally notified Congress. The extra $125 million is for peacekeeping in Haiti and the DRC, the Associated Press added.
The UN’s regular budget shares for May were estimated by Reuters at around $2.04 billion, $2.2 billion for force funding, plus $44 million for tribunals. The US made $160 million paid by the US this year, according to AP.
The proposed payment falls within a wider deficit for the UN, where Secretary-General António Guterres has raised the alarm, and the UN80 reforms have cut the regular 2026 budget by 9.2%, while shifting around 2,000 staff from more expensive to less costly posts.
US Remains Largest Assessed Contributor
The maximum share is 22%, and the US paid $725 million for the UN for their regular budget in 2025-2027. According to UN finance figures, China was in second place with a sum of 20.004%..UN finance figures show that Japan is in second place with a share of 6.930%.
The UN General Assembly approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for 2026 for the organization, which covers the basic operations of the UN but not the peacekeeping missions.
The dispute over payments also has implications for the allocation of financing for major world economies for corporations based in the US and Australia. As for Australia, its contribution to the UN is calculated separately and therefore it is not among the leading states in terms of percentage.
Source: Reuters
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
