MS NOW - The United Nations is running desperately low on money — and without a much-needed cash infusion, it may need to close the doors of its New York headquarters by August. The cash crunch is one that President Donald Trump could easily rectify by simply paying the money that the U.S. owes the U.N. But by withholding billions of dollars, Trump is putting tens of thousands of lives on the line, furthering the destructive rampage he set into motion last year.
The U.N.’s annual budget for 2026 totals $3.45 billion, covering its work supporting human rights, international development and peace and security. But unlike national governments, which raise taxes to pay for projects, the U.N. depends on contributions from its members to function. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spelled out the severity of the crisis in a letter to the body’s 193 member states last week, warning that the current cash crunch is “deepening, threatening program delivery and risking financial collapse.”
The cash crunch is one that President Donald Trump could easily rectify by simply paying the money that the U.S. owes the U.N.
The annual dues that states are required to pay are based on GDP. As the largest economy in the world, the U.S. pays the lion’s share — 22% of the total funding the U.N. receives each year. China is close behind at 20% with Japan way back in third at only 6.9% of the U.N. budget resting on its shoulders. All told, the U.S. owes $2.2 billion to the U.N., a combination of the $760 million it owes for this year and unpaid dues from 2025.
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