Trump pledges $10 billion in U.S. funds to his Board of Peace — a group he chairs for life

Trump makes a big Gaza pledge

President Trump announced a $10 billion U.S. commitment to the Board of Peace on Feb. 19, 2026, at the board’s first meeting in Washington, D.C. Representatives from more than 40 countries attended.

Trump called the amount “a very small number” compared to the cost of war, saying it equals about two weeks of fighting.

The White House did not say where the money would come from or confirm that Congress had approved the spending.

What is the Board of Peace?

The Board of Peace is an international body created to oversee the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the Israel-Hamas war. It grew out of Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, presented in September 2025.

The UN Security Council endorsed the board through Resolution 2803 in November 2025, with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions from China and Russia.

The resolution authorized the board for Gaza specifically, with a mandate expiring Dec. 31, 2027. About 25 of the 62 invited countries have signed the board’s charter.

Trump runs the board — with no end date

Under the board’s charter, Trump is the inaugural chairman with no term limits. He can only be replaced if he resigns or if the Executive Board votes him out due to incapacity.

A U.S. official told ABC News the chairmanship is independent of his role as U.S. president.

Trump holds veto power over all board decisions and has sole authority to invite countries, remove members, and create or dissolve subsidiary bodies within the board.

Why the money question matters

The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse under Article I. Federal spending normally requires congressional approval before a president can commit funds.

The Impoundment Control Act bars a president from canceling or delaying approved spending without going through Congress. The Antideficiency Act prevents officials from spending funds that were never properly approved.

Trump did not clarify whether his administration formally requested congressional approval for the $10 billion.

Lawmakers push back on the pledge

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., called the pledge “totally illegal.”

As of late February 2026, Republican congressional leaders have not publicly commented on the $10 billion or whether they would support approving the funds.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the meeting, called the board “the only way forward” for Gaza. Jared Kushner told reporters that board participants are volunteers and that no one is personally profiting.

The White House responded to funding questions by pointing back to Trump’s remarks at the meeting without providing more detail.

Where the money would actually go

Pledged funds for Gaza are to go into the Gaza Reconstruction and Development Fund, housed at the World Bank.

World Bank President Ajay Banga said the institution would serve as a “limited trustee,” managing donations and releasing funds under the board’s direction.

The World Bank also assigned a financial controller to the Board of Peace to help maintain transparency.

The UN estimates roughly $70 billion will be needed to fully rebuild Gaza, so the pledged funds cover a small share of that total.

Other countries put up money too

Nine countries pledged a combined $7 billion for Gaza: Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait.

Trump said the UN pledged to raise another $2 billion for humanitarian aid. Japan agreed to host an Asian donors conference to raise additional funds.

FIFA pledged $75 million for sports infrastructure in Gaza. Permanent board membership requires a $1 billion contribution.

Countries that give less serve three-year terms, renewable at the chairman’s discretion.

The board’s charter and its UN mandate don’t match

Resolution 2803 authorized the board specifically for Gaza reconstruction, with a mandate expiring at the end of 2027. The board’s own charter, though, makes no direct mention of Gaza.

It describes the board’s purpose broadly as promoting stability and peace “in areas affected or threatened by conflict,” with no end date.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas said the charter does not reflect what the Security Council endorsed, citing the lack of a time limit, Palestinian input, or reference to Gaza.

Rubio suggested the board’s scope may expand to other situations.

A security force starts to take shape

Several countries committed troops and police to a planned International Stabilization Force for Gaza. Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania are among those pledging personnel.

Egypt and Jordan agreed to train recruits on their soil.

Board of Peace High Representative Nikolay Mladenov said 2,000 Palestinians had already applied to the new police force.

Mladenov said the process of collecting weapons would be carried out by the new Palestinian police, so all arms fall under one civilian authority.

Key US allies are sitting this one out

The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and several other Western nations declined to join the board.

Canada’s invitation was rescinded after Prime Minister Mark Carney gave a speech at Davos criticizing pressure from larger powers.

France’s foreign ministry cited “ambiguity” in the board’s scope, saying it must refocus on Gaza. The Vatican declined, citing “points that leave us somewhat perplexed.”

China and Russia have not accepted invitations either, leaving the board’s global standing in question.

The meeting venue has its own legal fight

The meeting took place at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, formerly the U.S. Institute of Peace. The State Department renamed the building in December 2025.

Congress created the U.S. Institute of Peace in 1984 as an independent, nonpartisan institution. A federal judge ruled the administration’s earlier takeover of the institute was illegal.

That ruling is stayed pending appeal, and the building’s legal status remains unresolved.

What comes next for the pledge

It remains unclear whether Congress will act on the $10 billion pledge, either to authorize or block it.

The Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile, with Israeli airstrikes and reported violations continuing.

Reconstruction is set to begin in Rafah in southern Gaza, which remains under Israeli military control. The board’s UN mandate runs through December 2027, subject to further Security Council action.

Whether the board expands beyond Gaza could determine how much American taxpayer money is ultimately at stake.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Up to 2,500 Kennedy Center workers face cuts ahead of July shutdown
• Trump wants $1 billion from countries to join his new Board of Peace
• Trump picks hospitality executive Scott Socha for National Park Service role, drawing criticism