On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres proposed a 15% reduction to the UN’s regular budget for 2026, slashing it to $3.238 billion from $3.7 billion and eliminating 2,681 jobs, as part of the UN80 Initiative to enhance agility amid chronic liquidity issues exacerbated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies, according to letters to member states and staff, reported by The Straits Times and Channels Television (Web:0, Web:3). The cuts, equivalent to $500 million, and a 19% workforce reduction will impact the UN’s three pillars—peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development—while sparing programs for least-developed nations (Web:0, Web:5).
Guterres, who initially proposed maintaining the 2026 budget at 2025 levels, revised it following an extensive mandate review to address duplication and outdated tasks (Web:2, Web:6). The changes include relocating at least 200 staff from Geneva and New York to cost-effective cities like Nairobi, with some facing function changes or separation from service (Web:0, Web:5). The U.S., contributing 22% of the regular budget, owes $1.5 billion in arrears and has paid nothing since Trump’s return, having exited several UN agencies and rescinded funding (Web:0, Web:3). The proposal awaits General Assembly approval by year-end, with the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) reviewing it first (Web:2, Web:4).
X posts from @UN (September 16, 2025) outlined the reforms, while @Naija_Activist noted 68% global concern over UN funding cuts impacting African programs (Afrobarometer, 2025) (Post:3). The move signals a broader push for efficiency amid fiscal pressures (Web:8).
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