The United Nations' Money Problem: A Rule That Hurts More Than Helps

The United Nations is facing a unique challenge. A rule that seems outdated is causing trouble. This rule says if the U. N. doesn't spend money because countries pay late or not at all, it has to return that money. This could mean giving back nearly $300 million next year. That's a lot of money, especially when the U. N. is already struggling with a cash shortage. The U. N. is trying to fix this rule. But it's not easy. The rule was made when countries paid on time. Now, only 148 out of 193 member countries have paid their dues. The U. N. is already cutting its budget by 15% to save money. The main reason for the cash crisis is that the United States, one of the biggest contributors, hasn't paid its dues.The U. N. is trying to change this rule as part of the budget talks for 2026. The General Assembly needs to make a decision about this before the end of the year. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wants to pause this rule for now. He thinks the amount to be returned could rise to $600 million in 2027. He warns that this could lead the U. N. to bankruptcy. Ronny Patz, a U. N. finance expert, calls this a "runaway crisis. " He says the U. N. might not be able to do its basic jobs, which would affect everything it does. The U. N. charges countries based on how big their economies are. But as of mid-December, only 148 out of 193 member countries had paid their dues. The U. N. is in a tough spot. It's trying to fix a weird rule that could force it to give back hundreds of millions of dollars to countries. This is happening while the U. N. is already dealing with a cash shortage. The U. N. is trying to change this rule as part of the budget talks for 2026. The General Assembly needs to make a decision about this before the end of the year.