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The United Nations is preparing to reduce its regular budget by 15 percent in 2026, a move driven by ongoing financial difficulties that have worsened due to policies implemented during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is proposing a revised budget of $3.238 billion for 2026, which would lead to the elimination of 2,681 jobs, according to a senior UN official. This marks a significant reduction from Guterres’ earlier proposal to maintain the budget at approximately $3.7 billion, the same level as 2025.
As part of his UN80 Initiative, aimed at making the organization leaner and more efficient, Guterres announced the cuts in letters made public Tuesday, calling for “reductions of more than 15 percent in the regular budget level,” amounting to about $500 million. The workforce funded by this budget would face a 19 percent reduction.
The cuts will impact all three main pillars of the UN — peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development — though programs supporting the least-developed countries will remain protected, Guterres emphasized.
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He acknowledged the human toll of the budget adjustments, writing, “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.”
Relocation efforts are expected to affect at least 200 staff members currently based in Geneva and New York, who may be moved to more cost-effective cities such as Nairobi.
The proposed budget will be voted on by the General Assembly before the year ends.
The UN has long struggled with liquidity issues, partly because some member states delay or withhold their mandatory contributions. The United States, which traditionally covers 22 percent of the regular budget — distinct from peacekeeping funds — was \$1.5 billion behind in payments as of January and has made no payments since Trump returned to office.
Future American funding remains uncertain. The US has withdrawn from several UN agencies, and in July, Congress voted to rescind funding that had previously been approved.
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