UN Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed a 15 percent reduction in the organization’s 2026 budget, citing prolonged liquidity issues worsened by the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to a report from AFP on Tuesday, September 16, the revised budget stands at $3.238 billion—down from the nearly $3.7 billion previously proposed for 2026—resulting in the elimination of 2,681 jobs.
Guterres initially suggested keeping the budget at 2025 levels, but later pursued deeper cuts under the “UN 80” initiative aimed at making the organization leaner and more dynamic. In a letter to member states and UN staff, he announced a 15 percent reduction in the regular budget and a 19 percent reduction in staff.
The Secretary-General acknowledged that the cuts would affect the UN’s three core pillars: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. A senior UN official added that at least 200 staff members from Geneva and New York could be relocated to lower-cost duty stations such as Nairobi.
The proposed budget will be presented to the General Assembly for a vote before the end of the year.
For years, the UN has struggled with liquidity problems, exacerbated by member states failing to pay their assessed contributions in full or on time. The United States traditionally covers 22 percent of the regular UN budget, which funds core organizational functions separate from peacekeeping operations.
As of January, Washington owed the UN $1.5 billion, but since Trump’s return to the White House, no payments have been made. The outlook for future U.S. contributions remains uncertain, especially as the country has already withdrawn from several UN agencies and Congress voted in July to rescind previously approved funds.
Source: AFP