U.S. Pledges $2 Billion to UN Humanitarian Aid Amid Cuts

The United States announced a $2 billion pledge for United Nations humanitarian aid on Monday in Geneva, marking a significant reduction from previous years as the Trump administration pushes for reforms in how the world body delivers assistance amid escalating global crises.

The pledge, confirmed by a U.S. State Department official, represents a fraction of the country's past contributions. According to U.N. data, total U.S. humanitarian funding to the organization dropped to $3.38 billion in 2025, down from $14.1 billion the previous year and a high of $17.2 billion in 2022. Officials noted that only $8 billion to $10 billion of prior annual figures involved voluntary contributions, separate from regular U.N. membership dues. The new funding will flow through a centralized mechanism managed by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), expanding its role in allocating resources to specific crises and countries. This approach aims to streamline operations, reduce duplication and enhance efficiency, according to U.S. officials.

Under the plan, OCHA, led by Tom Fletcher, will direct the funds to an initial list of 17 countries facing acute needs,...