UN chief proposes budget cuts - $577 million less for next year, 20% of staff to be laid off
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres officially proposed cutting the UN's core budget for next year by $577 million and eliminating more than 18% of jobs.
Guterres is looking for ways to improve efficiency and reduce costs as the international organization celebrates its 80th anniversary this year and faces a liquidity crisis, largely due to debts owed by the United States.
“We ended 2024 with $760 million in debt, of which $709 million is still outstanding for 2024. We also have not received $877 million of the 2025 debt, and so the debt currently stands at $1.58 billion,” Guterres told the UN General Assembly budget committee.
He proposed a base budget of $3.238 billion for 2026, a 15% reduction from this year. This budget covers work in the political, humanitarian, economic, social affairs and communication areas. Contributions to most UN agencies, funds and programmes, such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF, are voluntary.
"Liquidity remains fragile and this challenge will continue despite the final budget approved by the General Assembly, due to the unacceptable volume of debts," Guterres said.
The United States is the largest contributor to the UN's core budget, paying a maximum of 22%, according to estimates approved by the General Assembly. US President Donald Trump has described the UN as an organization with "great potential" but has said it is not fulfilling that potential. He has called for a reduction in US funding.
Guterres launched a reform task force, known as UN80, in March, aimed at cutting costs and improving the organization's efficiency. UN peacekeeping missions have a separate budget. In October, senior UN officials said a quarter of peacekeepers in nine operations around the world would be cut due to a lack of funding, while future funding from the United States remains uncertain.
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