United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has proposed slashing the UN’s 2026 core budget by $577 million, including cutting 18% of jobs, as the global body faces one of its worst cash crises in decades. With $1.586 billion in arrears, mostly from the United States, Guterres warned that UN liquidity remains “fragile.” The proposed budget of $3.238 billion covers political, humanitarian, economic, social and communications work. Here’s a full breakdown of the numbers, reasons and global implications.
00:00Your Excellency Ambassador. Overall, the regular budget I am proposing to bring the resource requirements for 2026 down to US$3.28 billion, a reduction of $577 million, or 15,1%, compared with the 2025 appropriation.
00:23The proposed Staffing Table is revised to 11,594 posts, including Special Political Missions, a reduction of 2,681 posts, or 18.8%, compared with the approved Staffing Table for 2025.
00:43To deliver these changes responsibly, the report also includes one-time costs related to separations and relocations, as well as requests for time-limited transitional capacities that will be needed in the areas of human resources, administration of justice, and legal affairs.
01:04Thank you, Mr. Orvat. Excellencies, distinctly, liquidity remains fragile, and this challenge will persist, regardless of the final budget approved by the General Assembly, given the unacceptable volume of arrears.
01:21We ended 2024 with US$760 million in arrears, of which $709 million is still outstanding, from 2024.
01:36We have also not received $877 million of 2025 dues, and so does arrears now stand at US$1,586,000.
01:52I have repeatedly appealed to Member States to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time.
02:00And we continue to manage cash flows carefully, well below budget levels, and have proposed temporarily suspending the return of credits to safeguard liquidity and avoid disruption of program implementation.
02:16It is difficult for us to give back money that we have not, because we didn't receive it, and so it is very important to find a solution for this question, a temporary solution, based on an account in which the rights of Member States are clearly established,
02:41and returns will be purchased, and returns will be paid as soon as our liquidity situation allows.
02:50On behalf of the Committee, I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his statement.
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