UN Awaits US Payment of Nearly $4 Billion in Arrears

The UN is waiting to see if the US will pay it’s nearly $4 billion in arrears, which constitutes about 95% of the global body's unpaid regular budget.

The United Nations is awaiting a commitment from the United States regarding the nearly $4 billion it owes in outstanding arrears to the global organization's regular budget. According to senior U.N. officials, approximately 95% of the total arrears to the regular budget are attributable to the United States, creating significant financial strain and operational uncertainty for the institution.

The arrears have accumulated over several years, exacerbated by complex U.S. congressional appropriations processes and political debates over funding priorities and reform demands at the U.N. The outstanding amount impacts the U.N.'s ability to fund core operations, including peacekeeping missions, humanitarian programs, and administrative functions across its global agencies.

A U.N. spokesperson stated that while dialogue with U.S. officials is ongoing, "the liquidity situation remains precarious." The organization is effectively waiting to see the scale and timing of the U.S. payment intention for the 2026 fiscal year, which will be critical for annual planning. The U.S. is the largest single contributor to the U.N. regular and peacekeeping budgets, calculated based on its share of the global economy.

The Biden administration has previously expressed support for meeting international obligations, but securing the necessary funding requires navigating a divided Congress. Some lawmakers continue to link full payment to specific U.N. reforms or to oppose funding over political disagreements. This dynamic leaves the U.N. in a recurrent cycle of budgetary uncertainty.

Analysts warn that prolonged arrears could undermine U.S. influence within the institution, embolden calls for alternative funding models, and force program cuts in critical areas. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between multilateral financial commitments and domestic political constraints in Washington.