UN Secretary-General António Guterres has proposed a sweeping reduction to the United Nations’ core budget for 2026, citing a deepening cash crisis driven largely by unpaid U.S. dues.
Addressing the UN General Assembly’s budget committee, Guterres said the organization ended 2024 with $760 million in arrears, of which $709 million remains unpaid. An additional $877 million in 2025 dues has also not been received, pushing total arrears to $1.586 billion.
To stabilize finances, Guterres proposed a core budget of $3.238 billion for 2026 — a 15 percent cut from this year — along with an 18 percent reduction in staff. The core budget covers political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic and social affairs, along with global communications, while most UN agencies and programmes rely on voluntary contributions.
“Liquidity remains fragile, and this challenge will persist regardless of the final budget approved,” Guterres warned, describing the backlog of unpaid contributions as “unacceptable.”
The United States, which pays the maximum 22 percent of the UN’s core budget, has delayed payments amid calls from President Donald Trump to significantly reduce U.S. funding.
As part of broader reforms, Guterres launched the UN80 task force earlier this year to streamline operations and reduce costs. UN peacekeeping operations, funded separately, also face cuts — with senior officials warning in October that a quarter of peacekeepers across nine missions would be reduced due to financial uncertainty.
Addressing the UN General Assembly’s budget committee, Guterres said the organization ended 2024 with $760 million in arrears, of which $709 million remains unpaid. An additional $877 million in 2025 dues has also not been received, pushing total arrears to $1.586 billion.
To stabilize finances, Guterres proposed a core budget of $3.238 billion for 2026 — a 15 percent cut from this year — along with an 18 percent reduction in staff. The core budget covers political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic and social affairs, along with global communications, while most UN agencies and programmes rely on voluntary contributions.
“Liquidity remains fragile, and this challenge will persist regardless of the final budget approved,” Guterres warned, describing the backlog of unpaid contributions as “unacceptable.”
The United States, which pays the maximum 22 percent of the UN’s core budget, has delayed payments amid calls from President Donald Trump to significantly reduce U.S. funding.
As part of broader reforms, Guterres launched the UN80 task force earlier this year to streamline operations and reduce costs. UN peacekeeping operations, funded separately, also face cuts — with senior officials warning in October that a quarter of peacekeepers across nine missions would be reduced due to financial uncertainty.
