UN chief proposes 15% budget cut in 2026, cutting more than 2,000 jobs

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is proposing a 15 per cent cut to the UN’s regular budget in 2026 as it struggles with chronic liquidity problems made more acute by US President Donald Trump’s policies.

A senior UN official said the revised budget number is US$3.238 billion (S$4.131 billion), and would result in the elimination of 2,681 jobs.

Mr Guterres earlier had proposed to keep the 2026 budget at the same level as 2025 – around US$3.7 billion – but worked to reduce the amount as part of his UN80 Initiative to make the organisation more agile and efficient.

In letters to member states and UN personnel made public on Sept 16, the UN chief announced “reductions of more than 15 per cent in the regular budget level”, equivalent to about US$500 million, and a 19 per cent cut to the UN workforce covered by that budget.

The impact of cuts will be spread across the UN’s three pillars – peace and security, human rights and sustainable development – while programmes for least-developed nations will be spared, he said.

“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,” Mr Guterres wrote.

The changes would include the relocation of at least 200 people from Geneva and New York to less expensive cities like Nairobi, the senior UN official said.

The proposed budget will be put to a vote in the General Assembly before the end of 2025.

The UN has faced

chronic liquidity problems

for years because some member states do not pay their mandatory contributions in full, and others do not pay on time.

The US has typically covered 22 per cent of the UN’s regular budget, which pays for core organisational activities and is separate from the peacekeeping budget.

Washington was US$1.5 billion in arrears on its payments at the end of January and has paid nothing since Mr Trump’s return to the White House, according to the United Nations.

Future US contributions to the organisation are uncertain.

The US has already

left several UN agencies

, and Congress voted in July to rescind previously approved funding. AFP