United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed a 15 percent cut to the UN’s regular budget for 2026, citing chronic financial shortfalls worsened by U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies and halted contributions.
The proposed budget stands at $3.238 billion — down from the previously projected $3.7 billion — and includes plans to eliminate 2,681 jobs. The move is part of Guterres’ broader UN80 Initiative, aimed at making the organization leaner, more agile, and better equipped to meet global challenges ahead of its 80th anniversary in 2025.
In letters to UN staff and member states released Tuesday, Guterres said the budget cuts will involve a 19 percent reduction in the regular workforce, with the impact distributed across the UN’s three central pillars: peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development. However, programs directed at the world’s least-developed countries will be protected.
"For some colleagues, these changes may mean relocation for themselves and their families. For others, they mean changes in functions or reporting lines. And for some, separation from service," Guterres wrote.
A senior UN official confirmed that at least 200 staff members based in Geneva and New York will be relocated to more cost-effective cities such as Nairobi.
The proposal must be approved by the UN General Assembly before the end of the year.
The UN has long suffered from liquidity problems due to delayed or incomplete contributions from member states. The situation has worsened under the current U.S. administration. The United States, which traditionally funds about 22 percent of the UN’s regular budget, was $1.5 billion behind on payments as of January and has made no payments since Trump returned to office. Furthermore, in July, the U.S. Congress voted to rescind previously approved UN funding.
In recent years, Washington has also withdrawn from multiple UN agencies, adding further uncertainty to future contributions.
The proposed budget cuts mark one of the most significant downsizing efforts in the UN’s history, reflecting both fiscal pressures and a broader attempt to reform the organization in the face of mounting global challenges and shifting political dynamics.
