Guterres has assigned Under-Secretary-General Guy Ryder to lead a special internal task force. (Photo: PTI)
The United Nations is working to improve efficiency and cut costs as it marks its 80th anniversary. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced a new initiative, the UN80 taskforce, on Wednesday. However, he made it clear that this effort has nothing to do with the U.S. government's cost-cutting program led by President Donald Trump and businessman Elon Musk.
"We are talking about completely different processes, methodologies, and objectives," Guterres said when asked if the U.N. was following the U.S. model. He explained that the U.N. has always worked on improving efficiency, and this initiative is simply a continuation of those efforts.
Two U.N. officials, who spoke anonymously, admitted that Trump’s return to office had increased pressure to make reforms. In February, Trump stated that the U.N. has "great potential" but needs to "get their act together." In response, the U.N. insisted that Guterres had been actively pushing for changes to enhance the organization’s effectiveness.
Guterres emphasized that the U.N.’s budget is not just about numbers but about saving lives worldwide. "We must ensure value for money while advancing shared values," he said.
Budget Struggles and Financial Uncertainty
The U.N. is facing financial difficulties for the seventh consecutive year. Many of its 193 member states fail to pay their dues on time or in full, leading to a cash shortage. The organization's regular budget for 2025 is $3.7 billion, covering political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic, social, and communication efforts.
The United States and China are the largest contributors to the U.N.’s budget. The U.S. is required to pay 22% of the total, while China’s contribution increased to 20% this year. However, financial uncertainty remains.
China, which previously paid its dues in the middle of the year, now delays payments until the end of the year. Meanwhile, the U.S. is behind on its payments, owing the U.N. $1.5 billion. The last payment of $275 million was made in November under former President Joe Biden.
One U.N. official admitted there is “a lot of uncertainty” regarding this year’s budget. China has assured the U.N. it will pay in full but hasn’t confirmed when. The U.S. has not yet indicated how much it will contribute.
Due to financial concerns, the U.N. has cut planned spending by up to 20% and introduced a hiring freeze. Only 75 countries had paid their full budget dues as of March 7.
When asked if the efficiency measures would lead to job cuts, a U.N. official said, “At this point, I can’t say. What I will say is that everything is on the table and nothing is off the table.”
