UN Issues Dire Warning as US Owes Billions in Dues [View all]

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Source: Newsweek

Published Jan 30, 2026 at 04:29 PM EST updated Jan 30, 2026 at 06:22 PM EST


United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned Friday that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” by mid-year unless its financial rules are reworked or all 193 member states pay their assessed dues in full and on time. Newsweek reached out to the White House by email on Friday afternoon for comment.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump has heavily focused on the nation's financial health since returning to office, moving with cold efficiency to cut spending, especially where he deems to find alleged waste, fraud, and abuse: This manifested most clearly in the debate around the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an aid agency that has supported Palestinian refugees since 1949, but one which Trump claimed had "funneled" money to Hamas.

Trump ultimately ordered the U.S. to withdraw from dozens of organizations that he and his administration deemed wasteful for American taxpayers or ideologically driven, many of which were run by the U.N. Simultaneously, Trump has taken NATO members to task for failing to meet their financial obligations, stressing that maintaining those payments was necessary to keep the U.S. involved in the organization.

What To Know

The stark message, conveyed in a letter to member governments, comes as the U.N.’s cash reserves dwindle and outstanding payments have reached record levels. Guterres did not single out any country by name, but the warning comes amid significant arrears from the United States, traditionally the largest contributor.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/un-warns-imminent-financial-collapse-unpaid-dues-11445914