The United States has pledged $2 billion to support United Nations humanitarian operations, seeking to ease a severe funding shortfall facing the organization, according to a US State Department official on Monday.
The commitment follows substantial cuts to US foreign assistance during 2025 under President Donald Trump, alongside reductions by leading Western donors, including Germany, which have redirected spending towards defense. Together, these moves have contributed to what UN officials describe as an acute humanitarian funding crisis.
A senior official at the US Department of State said the $2 billion pledge will be allocated to United Nations humanitarian programs. No further details were provided on how the funds will be distributed or whether additional US commitments are expected in the near term.
Data from the United Nations show that total US humanitarian contributions fell sharply in 2025 to approximately $3.38 billion, representing around 14.8% of global humanitarian funding. This marks a significant drop from $14.1 billion in 2024 and from a peak of $17.2 billion in 2022.
Earlier this month, the UN launched an appeal to raise $23 billion in 2026 to reach 87 million people at risk worldwide. The target is nearly half of the $47 billion requested for 2025, highlighting a growing gap between escalating humanitarian needs and declining donor support.
UN humanitarian coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that the organization’s relief operations are under intense strain due to persistent underfunding, forcing difficult decisions about prioritizing assistance for the most vulnerable as global crises continue to multiply.
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