UN to reduce staff by 20%, mull realignment as US cuts funding
NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- The United Nations will reduce its staff by 20 percent and consider realigning more than 140 related institutions, senior officials said Tuesday, as the organization faces funding cuts from the United States.
Guy Ryder, U.N. undersecretary general for policy and chair of a task force for restructuring, and other officials told a meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York that the targeted institutions include the United Nations Children's Fund and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
The United Nations, which is marking its 80th anniversary this year, plans to reduce 2,000 personnel, mainly in New York and Geneva, and cut its 2026 budget by 15 to 20 percent from this year's level.
The move follows the decision by the United States, the largest financial contributor to the United Nations, to reduce or freeze its funding under President Donald Trump's "America First" policy.
The country provided 22 percent of its $3.72 billion regular budget for this year. Japan was the third-largest contributor at 6.9 percent, coming after China at 20 percent.
The organizational restructuring is expected to start in 2027 at the earliest. The task force is reviewing the targeted organizations under seven clusters including development, peace and security and human rights.
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NEW YORK (Kyodo) -- The United Nations will reduce its staff by 20 percent and consider realigning more than 140 related institutions, senior officials said Tuesday, as the organization faces funding cuts from the United States. Guy Ryder, U.N. undersecretary general for policy and chair of a task force for restructuring, and other officials told a meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York that the targeted institutions include the United Nations Children's Fund and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The United Nations, which is marking its 80th anniversary this year, plans to reduce 2,000 personnel, mainly in New York and Geneva, and cut its 2026 budget by 15 to 20 percent from this year's level. The move follows the decision by the United States, the largest financial contributor to the United Nations, to reduce or freeze its funding under President Donald Trump's "America First" policy. The country provided 22 percent of its $3.72 billion regular budget for this year. Japan was the third-largest contributor at 6.9 percent, coming after China at 20 percent. The organizational restructuring is expected to start in 2027 at the earliest. The task force is reviewing the targeted organizations under seven clusters including development, peace and security and human rights.
