Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

UN orders budget cuts, staff relocations from NY included

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Apr 2025 13:54
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

The UN is preparing to relocate staff from New York and Geneva to cheaper cities amid fears of major US funding cuts under Trump

Listen
  • x
  • United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Secuirty Council meeting, October 2, 2024, at UN headquarters (UNTV via AP)
    United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting, October 2, 2024, at UN headquarters (UNTV via AP)

The United Nations has directed its agencies to prepare for significant budget cuts, including relocating staff from New York and Geneva to lower-cost cities, amid growing concerns that US President Donald Trump will sharply reduce US contributions.

In a two-page memo reviewed by The New York Times, dated April 25, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres instructed department heads to submit proposals by May 15 for inclusion in the 2026 budget.

“Your objective is to identify as many functions as possible that could be relocated to existing lower-cost locations,” the memo reads, “or otherwise reduced or abolished if they are duplicative or no longer viable.”

The memo followed an executive order signed by Trump in February to reassess US ties to the UN, after previously pulling the US out of several UN organizations, including those dealing with human rights, women’s reproductive rights, climate change, Palestinian aid, global health, and cutting funding to peacekeeping operations.

Three senior UN officials said the sweeping cost-cutting directive came as a surprise and was seen as an effort to shield the organization from further financial shocks. 

Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group said the UN’s portrayal of the changes as an internal reform masks anxiety over US pressure. “The US cuts, the range of the cuts and scale of the cuts have really shocked the UN,” he said, adding, “So Guterres is now frankly racing to catch up with a very bad situation.”

Related News

Trump accusations of aid theft 'baseless, perpetuate lies': Hamas

Germany to deliver Patriot systems to Ukraine within days: Pistorius

"What has thrown everyone off balance is how cuts have hit not only parts of the UN that the US traditionally dislikes, but parts of the UN that Washington has historically been favorable to."

I talk @GenevaSolutions with @telegramwriter & @loucharbon.https://t.co/LNvbFBAGR1

— Richard Gowan (@RichardGowan1) April 28, 2025

In March, Guterres launched the UN80 initiative to overhaul operations ahead of the organization’s 80th anniversary, citing long-standing financial strain. 

"The United Nations is seeking ways to improve efficiency and cut costs as it turns 80 this year amid a cash crisis," said Guterres on March 12, 2025. He emphasized that the UN80 initiative aims to enhance effectiveness while addressing an ongoing liquidity crisis due to member states not paying dues on time or in full.

According to Reuters, as of March 7, only 75 member states had fully paid their regular budget assessments, with major contributors like the United States and China behind schedule. This liquidity crisis has led the UN to reduce planned spending by up to 20% and implement a hiring freeze to manage its financial constraints

Reach of budget cuts

Agencies have already begun implementing austerity measures. UNICEF expects at least a 20 percent budget drop in 2026 and is considering moving staff from New York to Valencia, Spain. The UN Population Fund plans to relocate its entire operation to Nairobi. Humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has announced a hiring freeze, travel restrictions, and a 20 percent staff reduction. The UN now anticipates an overall 20 percent budget shortfall in 2026, amounting to billions in losses.

Last February, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced that it would reduce its operations in Lebanon as a result. And earlier this month, the United Nations’ emergency and disaster response agency (OCHA) announced it would scale back or withdraw operations in Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Zimbabwe due to the severe funding crisis. The OCHA announced that approximately 500 staff members from OCHA’s 2,600-strong workforce across more than 60 countries will be laid off.

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced sweeping restructuring plans as it faces a $560–$650 million salary gap for 2026–2027, following the US halt in funding and membership dues.

  • US President Donald Trump
  • United Nations Budget Cuts
  • Budget Cuts
  • WHO
  • US funding reductions
  • UNHCR
  • UNICEF

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS