US to pay $850M on $5B UN debt as Trump administration continues push for reforms

The United States has awarded $850 million toward its roughly $5 billion debt to the United Nations, marking the Trump administration’s largest payment to the world body since demanding sweeping reforms. The State Department plans to direct $725 million to the regular U.N. budget and $125 million to peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The payment follows a $160 million transfer in February after the U.N. warned of an imminent financial crisis. The move partially addresses U.S. arrears while preserving pressure for changes to U.N. operations, staffing and funding priorities.