US pledges $1.8 billion more for UN humanitarian aid even as it's cut foreign assistance overall

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz walks from the West Wing at the White House, April 8, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres talks to members of the press during a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the UN headquarters in Nairobi, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday announced $1.8 billion more toward U.N. humanitarian aid, saying it will be earmarked for lifesaving aid to victims of natural disasters, famine and “people who are truly in critical need” even as the U.S. has cut foreign assistance overall.

The money will be allocated over the coming year and adds to the $2 billion that the Trump administration pledged in December. Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said at a press conference that the new funding is just “the latest step.”

The new contribution brings total U.S. support for U.N. humanitarian programs to $3.8 billion across 21 countries, according to the State Department, which said the money would be prioritized for locally run projects that help the most vulnerable populations.