Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: The United States has taken steps to pay a significant portion of its outstanding financial obligations to the United Nations. The Trump administration has notified Congress of plans to provide a total of $850 million to the United Nations. Of that amount, $725 million is planned for the UN regular budget, while $125 million is earmarked for UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

However, the funds have not yet been transferred to the United Nations. U.S. officials said the release of the money is tied to continued reforms at the United Nations. Washington has been pushing for reductions in UN spending and reforms aimed at addressing what the administration considers growing Chinese influence within the organization.

According to UN figures, the United States owes the organization more than $4 billion in outstanding payments. This includes approximately $2.04 billion for the regular budget, about $2.2 billion for peacekeeping operations, and additional amounts related to international tribunals. However, Washington and the United Nations differ in their calculations of the total amount owed.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the organization is facing a serious financial crisis as member states continue to fall behind on their payments this year. To address the funding shortfall, the United Nations has already begun cutting its budget and reducing expenditures. The 2026 UN budget was reduced by 9.2 percent compared with the previous year.

Although the United States remains the United Nations' largest financial contributor, the Trump administration has significantly reduced funding to the UN and several of its agencies over the past year and a half. At the same time, the administration has called for major reforms within the organization.

The proposed payment represents less than 20 percent of the total amount the United States owes, according to UN figures. However, UN officials and experts say the funding could help ease some of the organization's immediate financial pressure.

The proposed payment comes as preparations are underway for President Donald Trump to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York next month. The development is expected to draw renewed international attention to the financial relationship between Washington and the United Nations, as well as the future of reforms within the organization.