Alpha News

US Pledges $2 Billion in Humanitarian Aid to the UN

Published December 29, 2025, 13:21

The United States has pledged $2 billion in humanitarian aid to the United Nations, following significant cuts to foreign aid enacted under the Trump administration. These cuts led to a reduction in funding for the UN, prompting other Western donors, such as Germany, to also decrease their contributions as they shifted towards increasing their defense spending. The total US contribution to the UN's humanitarian needs for 2025 is estimated at $3.38 billion, representing 14.8% of the total amount. This marks a dramatic decline compared to the $14.1 billion in 2023 and the $17.2 billion in 2022. Earlier in December, the UN appealed for $23 billion for 2026 to reach 87 million people at risk. This amount is lower than the $47 billion requested for 2025, reflecting the overall decrease in donor support. Tom Fletcher, the UN's humanitarian chief, emphasized that the organization's humanitarian response is overly demanding and underfunded, requiring difficult choices to prioritize needs and provide assistance to those most in need. The new US pledge is expected to help address some of these critical needs, however, details regarding the allocation of funds have not been released.