Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

The United States has announced a $2 billion humanitarian aid pledge to the United Nations.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: Every year, the United Nations collects billions in voluntary contributions from member states and donors to finance its humanitarian aid operations, which are coordinated primarily through the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Aid is then distributed through UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP), UNHCR, and UNICEF, which implement relief operations on the ground. The majority of funding comes from a small group of high-income countries, with the United States historically being the largest donor, followed by Germany, the EU, the United Kingdom, and Sweden which together account for over 60% of all humanitarian contributions. These funds are critical in responding to natural disasters, armed conflicts, and protracted humanitarian crises around the globe.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, US Ambassador Michael Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States would contribute $2 billion to the United Nations as part of a new humanitarian funding model designed to make aid delivery more efficient and aligned with US foreign policy. The funds, which are significantly lower than contributions in previous years, will be funneled through a centralized structure led by OCHA, instead of being spread across individual requests. This shift reflects what the Trump administration describes as a “humanitarian reset” aimed at reducing waste, eliminating duplication, and ensuring stronger oversight over how aid is spent.

The funding comes with some strings attached: Aid must focus strictly on “life-saving” activities, exclude climate-related initiatives, and not benefit areas seen as politically or ideologically opposed to US interests, such as Afghanistan, where US officials allege aid had been diverted to the Taliban. Instead, 17 priority countries, including Syria, Haiti, Sudan, and Ukraine, have been earmarked to receive assistance under the new policy. Officials emphasized that OCHA, under the leadership of Tom Fletcher, will “control the spigot” of aid disbursement, centralizing decisions on which agencies get what and when.

UN emergency relief chief Tom Fletcher welcomed the pledge, calling it a vital show of continued leadership by the United States at a time of growing global need.