The United States has pledged $2 billion to U.N. humanitarian operations, announced by a State Department official, following steep U.S. aid cuts in 2025. U.N. data show U.S. humanitarian contributions fell to about $3.38 billion in 2025, down from $14.1 billion in 2024. The U.N. has launched a $23 billion appeal for 2026 to assist 87 million people, while aid chief Tom Fletcher warns agencies are stretched thin and forced to make "brutal choices."
U.S. Pledges $2 Billion to U.N. Humanitarian Effort After Sharp 2025 Aid Cuts
FILE PHOTO: A general view of a U.S. State Department sign outside the U.S. State Department building in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 11, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon/File Photo
GENEVA, Dec 29 (Reuters) — The United States has pledged $2 billion to United Nations humanitarian operations, a State Department official said on Monday, offering fresh relief after steep U.S. foreign aid cuts in 2025.
Officials did not provide details on how the funds will be allocated or whether additional commitments from Washington will follow. The announcement comes amid a broader drop in international aid as several Western donors, including Germany, have shifted resources toward increased defense spending.
Aid Trends and Shortfall
U.N. data show total U.S. humanitarian contributions to U.N. agencies fell to about $3.38 billion in 2025, representing roughly 14.8% of the global total. That figure marks a sharp decline from $14.1 billion in 2024 and a peak of $17.2 billion in 2022.
Earlier in December, the United Nations launched a $23 billion appeal for 2026 to help some 87 million people at risk — roughly half the $47 billion the U.N. sought for 2025 — underscoring how donor support has fallen even as global humanitarian needs rise.
U.N. Response Under Strain
U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher warned that the organization’s humanitarian response is overstretched and underfunded, forcing agencies to make what he described as "brutal choices" to prioritize the most urgent needs.
Who's affected: Millions of vulnerable people worldwide rely on U.N. relief programs, which face difficult prioritization decisions as funding tightens.
(Reporting by Olivia Le Poidevin; editing by Dave Graham)
