UN Reduces 2026 Spending by $577M as Countries Fail to Pay

New York: The United Nations says it will make major cuts to its 2026 budget because many countries have not paid their dues. The UN plans to reduce its spending by $577 million and cut 2,681 jobs almost one-fifth of its staff.

The UN reports that by September 2025, countries owed the organization about $1.59 billion. This shortage of money is forcing the UN to take tough decisions.

• The 2026 budget will be $3.24 billion, which is 15% less than last year.

• UN Secretary-General António Guterres said many of the jobs being removed can be done more efficiently or handled by others.

• About 18% of UN jobs were already empty because the UN did not have money to fill them.

• Many UN departments will face cuts, and some political missions will get over 20% less money next year.

• The UN will not cut funding for the agency that supports Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and programs that support Africa’s development.

• The UN will also close or reduce some offices to save more money. For example, ending two office leases in New York could save over $24 million a year starting from 2029.

The UN says its financial situation is very weak and may remain difficult even after these cuts.

Some diplomats worry that junior and lower-level staff are losing more jobs than senior officials.

Others warn that development programs  especially in poorer countries  could suffer.

The cuts are part of a larger plan called UN80, which aims to make the organization work faster, smarter, and with less waste.

The UN’s member countries still need to approve the 2026 budget and job cuts.

But for now, it is clear that the UN is entering a period of serious cost-saving after years of financial pressure.