UN plans 15% budget cut in 2026 as Trump’s policies bite

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is proposing a 15-percent chopped to the UN’s regular fund successful 2026 arsenic it struggles with chronic liquidity problems made much acute by US President Donald Trump’s policies.

A elder United Nations authoritative said the revised fund fig is $3.238 billion, and would effect successful the elimination of 2,681 jobs.

Guterres earlier had projected to support the 2026 fund astatine the aforesaid level arsenic 2025 — astir $3.7 cardinal — but worked to trim the magnitude arsenic portion of his UN80 Initiative to marque the enactment much agile and efficient.

In letters to subordinate states and UN unit made nationalist Tuesday, the UN main announced “reductions of much than 15 percent successful the regular fund level,” equivalent to astir $500 million, and a 19-percent chopped to the UN workforce covered by that budget.

The interaction of cuts volition beryllium dispersed crossed the UN’s 3 pillars — bid and security, quality rights and sustainable improvement — portion programs for least-developed nations volition beryllium spared, helium said.

“For immoderate colleagues, these changes whitethorn mean relocation for themselves and their families. For others, they mean changes successful functions oregon reporting lines. And for some, separation from service,” Guterres wrote.

The changes would see the relocation of astatine slightest 200 radical from Geneva and New York to little costly cities similar Nairobi, the elder UN authoritative said.

The projected fund volition beryllium enactment to a ballot successful the General Assembly earlier the extremity of the year.

The UN has faced chronic liquidity problems for years due to the fact that immoderate subordinate states don’t wage their mandatory contributions successful full, and others don’t wage connected time.

The United States has typically covered 22 percent of the UN’s regular budget, which pays for halfway organizational activities and is abstracted from the peacekeeping budget.

Washington was $1.5 cardinal successful arrears connected its payments astatine the extremity of January and has paid thing since Trump’s instrumentality to the White House, according to the United Nations.

Future US contributions to the enactment are uncertain. The United States has already near respective UN agencies, and Congress voted successful July to rescind antecedently approved funding.

AFP

The station UN plans 15% fund chopped successful 2026 arsenic Trump’s policies bite appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.