US plans to pay $850 million of the $5 billion it owes the United Nations

The U.S. government has informed Congress of its intention to pay $850 million towards its outstanding dues to the United Nations. This payment includes $725 million for the regular UN budget and $125 million for peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United States currently owes approximately $5 billion to the UN. This move comes after the Trump administration previously demanded sweeping reforms from the UN and had withheld payments, leading to concerns about the organization's financial stability. While this payment represents the largest made by the administration, some Republicans on Capitol Hill have expressed concerns that it does not fully address issues like UN staffing and ideological positions.

The Trump administration has initiated the transfer of $725 million to the United Nations, as indicated by a congressional notification. This payment comes as the UN Secretary-General warned of "imminent financial collapse" due to member states' unpaid contributions. While this amount is less than 20% of the over $4 billion the UN stated the U.S. owes, aid experts view it as a positive step. The payment is expected before President Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly next month. Failure to pay further arrears could lead to the U.S. losing its voting rights in the General Assembly in January. The U.S. is the largest UN contributor, but has reduced funding to many agencies under the current administration.