The spending bill just signed funds what the US owes the UN. Infuriating!

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The United States will make an initial payment toward the billions of dollars it owes to the United Nations in a matter of weeks, the U.S. ambassador to the world body said Friday, while stressing the need for the U.N. to continue reforms. Mike Waltz made the comments in a telephone interview two weeks after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sounded the alarm on U.N. finances and warned that the 193-country organization is at risk of "imminent financial collapse" due to unpaid fees, the majority of which ?are owed by Washington.

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You'll certainly see an initial tranche of money very shortly," Waltz said. "It'll be a significant... down payment on our annual dues.... I ?don't believe ?that the ultimate figure is decided, but it'll be in a matter of weeks." U.N. officials say more than 95% of what is owed to the regular U.N. budget is owed by the United States — $2.19 billion by the start of February. The U.S. also owes another $2.4 billion for current and past peacekeeping missions and $43.6 million for U.N. tribunals. On Dec. 30, the U.N. General Assembly approved $3.45 billion for the regular U.N. budget for 2026, following weeks of negotiations. This covers costs of running U.N. offices around the world, including the headquarters in New York, staff salaries, meetings and development ?and human rights work.

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U.N. officials say ?the U.S. did not pay into the regular budget last year and owes $827 million for that, as well as $767 million for 2026.

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On Tuesday, Trump signed into law a spending bill that includes $3.1 billion for U.S. ?dues to the U.N. and other international ?organizations. Asked if the money he spoke of would go toward last year's dues or those for ?2026, or both, Waltz said: "just in general, towards the arrears, and also in recognition of some of the reforms that we've seen."

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