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The United Nations on Monday said it is still awaiting clarity on when and how much the United States will contribute toward its overdue budget dues, despite Washington’s recent commitment to make an initial payment within weeks.
“We’ve seen the statements, and the secretary-general has been engaged on this matter with Ambassador Mike Waltz for some time,” U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters. “Our budget office has been in contact with the U.S., and we are waiting for details on the timing and amounts of payments.”
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres raised concerns over the organization’s finances in a letter to member states on January 28, warning that the 193-member body faces the risk of “imminent financial collapse” due to unpaid contributions. The bulk of the arrears are owed by the United States, which under previous administrations has called for U.N. reforms and budget reductions.
Ambassador Waltz told Reuters last Friday that an initial payment would be made “very shortly,” describing it as a “significant down payment” on America’s annual dues. While the exact total remains undecided, he said the payment would come in “a matter of weeks.”
U.N. records indicate that the U.S. accounts for more than 95% of outstanding contributions to the regular budget. By early February, the country owes $2.19 billion in regular budget fees, along with $2.4 billion for ongoing and past peacekeeping operations and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals.
Last year, the U.S. did not contribute to the regular budget, leaving $827 million unpaid, in addition to $767 million due for 2026. Arrears from previous years make up the remaining balance. When asked whether the forthcoming payment would cover last year, this year, or both, Waltz said it would generally go toward the arrears while acknowledging recent reforms.
As of last Friday, 55 member states had already submitted their contributions to the U.N.’s regular budget for 2026, ahead of the February 8 deadline, according to U.N. data.
