Washington Moves Toward Clearing UN Dues

The United States is preparing to make an initial payment toward the billions of dollars it owes the United Nations, offering short-term relief to an organization facing severe financial strain. The payment is expected within weeks, according to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, who emphasized that the move would be paired with continued pressure on the UN to accelerate long-overdue reforms.

The announcement follows a stark warning from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who recently told member states that the 193-nation body is at risk of an “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid contributions, with the largest share owed by the United States.

Scale of the U.S. Arrears

UN officials say the United States accounts for more than 95% of outstanding payments to the organization’s regular budget. As of early February, Washington owed approximately $2.19 billion in unpaid regular budget dues. In addition, the U.S. owes about $2.4 billion related to current and past peacekeeping missions, along with roughly $43.6 million for international tribunals.

These arrears have strained the UN’s ability to manage basic operations, from staffing and peacekeeping deployments to development and human rights programs. The financial pressure has intensified as unpaid dues have accumulated across multiple budget cycles.

What the Initial Payment Covers

While the exact size of the first payment has not been finalized, Waltz described it as a significant down payment toward annual obligations. The funds are expected to be applied broadly to arrears rather than earmarked for a specific year, acknowledging both past nonpayments and ongoing assessments.

Congress recently approved a spending bill allocating $3.1 billion for U.S. dues to the UN and other international organizations. That legislation provides the financial foundation for the upcoming payment, though it remains unclear how quickly the full amount will be disbursed.

UN officials note that the U.S. did not contribute to the regular budget last year, leaving an unpaid balance of roughly $827 million, in addition to about $767 million assessed for 2026.

A Budget Under Growing Strain

The UN General Assembly approved a $3.45 billion regular budget for 2026 after prolonged negotiations. The budget funds the organization’s global operations, including headquarters costs in New York, salaries, diplomatic meetings, peacebuilding efforts, and development initiatives.

Although the approved budget is about $200 million higher than what the secretary-general initially proposed, it is roughly 7% lower than the 2025 budget. Guterres has warned that even with cost controls, cash shortages could force the UN to exhaust available funds by mid-year if major contributors fail to pay.

Reform at the Center of U.S. Support

The Biden administration has tied financial support to reform momentum, backing Guterres’ UN80 initiative aimed at cutting costs, reducing duplication, and improving efficiency. Waltz described the reform effort as a necessary first step, while arguing it does not yet go far enough.

U.S. officials have pointed to structural inefficiencies across the system, including overlapping mandates and administrative bloat. One frequently cited example is the presence of multiple UN agencies with similar climate-related missions, which Washington argues should be consolidated.

The U.S. has also pushed for shared logistics, streamlined back-office operations, and a sharper focus on core priorities such as peace and security rather than expansive mandates.

Retreat From Multilateral Engagement

The funding crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of a broader U.S. pullback from multilateral institutions. Under President Donald Trump, Washington reduced or eliminated voluntary contributions to several UN agencies and moved to exit organizations such as the World Health Organization.

While U.S. arrears have existed for decades, they have grown significantly in recent years, amplifying concerns about the sustainability of the UN’s funding model and the reliability of its largest contributor.

Structural Barriers to Payment

U.S. officials say part of the peacekeeping arrears stems from a mismatch between UN assessment formulas and limits imposed under U.S. law. This statutory gap prevents Washington from paying the full amount assessed for peacekeeping operations, an issue expected to be addressed in future negotiations over contribution rates.

Another point of contention is a UN rule requiring the organization to credit back unspent funds to member states each year, even if those dues were never paid. Guterres has criticized the rule as counterproductive and warned that it worsens liquidity pressures. The U.S. has indicated support for changing this policy.

A Critical Test for the UN’s Future

The planned U.S. payment may provide temporary breathing room, but officials on both sides acknowledge it does not resolve the underlying challenges facing the UN. Rising costs, uneven burden-sharing, and growing skepticism about the organization’s effectiveness have left its finances vulnerable.

As negotiations over reforms and funding continue, the coming months will be critical. Whether the UN can stabilize its finances and restore confidence among member states may depend as much on structural change as on overdue payments finally beginning to flow.

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