Potential job losses for around 7000 United Nations staff members may be imminent due to Trump's influence. - Trump's tenure reportedly leads to UN's mass employee termination, with nearly 7,000 positions on the line.
The United Nations (UN) is contemplating major budget cuts and the potential elimination of 6,900 positions, following a memo obtained by Reuters. The memo requests UN staff to submit proposals for cost-saving measures by June 13.
This financial predicament arises, in part, due to the United States (US), which has partially withheld payments to the world organization. Historically, the US has contributed nearly a fourth of the UN's annual budget. Criticisms from President Donald Trump and proposals to lower funding have intensified the UN's fiscal struggles.
UN Controller Chandramouli Ramanathan, the memo's author, did not clarify the reason for the US payment halt. He stated that the cuts are part of a review, aiming to make the UN relevant and effective in the 21st century while reducing human suffering. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is contemplating various solutions, such as downsizing or merging individual UN departments, and relocating UN facilities to cities with lower costs. He warned that difficult decisions lie ahead, stressing that avoiding them would lead to a dead end.
The UN80 Initiative, launched by Guterres, aims to address the organization's financial challenges and streamline operations to reduce costs. Besides the US, other global institutions like the World Food Programme and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs face budget constraints, leading to staff reductions.
- United Nations (UN)
- Donald Trump (US President)
- USA (United States)
- UN Staff
- Financial Crisis
- Funders
- Reuters
- Amidst the ongoing financial crisis, the UN is seeking cost-saving measures, including potential employment policy reforms, due to the US withholding payments, which historically constitute a significant portion of its annual budget, under President Donald Trump's proposals to lower funding.
- In the realm of general news, politics, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts, the UN80 Initiative aims to address its financial challenges, prompting discussions about community policy changes and department mergers, as the UN strives to remain relevant and effective while reducing human suffering in the 21st century.
