The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted the UN programme budget for 2026, totaling 3.45 billion U.S. dollars.
The budget largely reflects UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' proposed 15 percent reduction in financial resources and a nearly 19 percent cut in staffing.
Earlier in the day, the budget was adopted by the General Assembly's Fifth Committee, which is responsible for administrative and budgetary matters.
At the closing of the session of the Fifth Committee, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, Jerome Bonnafont, stressed that the budget must now be fully implemented.
"This budget must now be fully implemented. We call on all Member States, without exception, to pay their assessed contributions in full and on time, starting at the beginning of 2026. Payment is not an option. It's a duty for all of us. And France is wholeheartedly committed to it," he said.
"Today marks an important first step in our comprehensive reform efforts. As our collective resolution clearly states, reforms are not a one-time exercise. To that end, we expect ambitious and tangible reform proposals in the 2027 and 2028 budgets, including structural realignments, improved efficiency, and the elimination of duplication. We urge the Secretary-General to put forward bold proposals that deliver the structural changes the United Nations urgently needs," Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations Jeffrey Bartos said at the session.
Negotiations on the 2026 programme budget highlighted both ongoing financial constraints and the broader UN80 initiative, a wide-ranging reform effort launched on the occasion of the UN's 80th anniversary that aims to improve efficiency, reduce duplication, and better align resources with mandates.
Member states debated sharply over the size and scope of the budget, including proposed reductions in staff posts, funding for special political missions, and resource allocations for new reform priorities. Discussions were further complicated by concerns about cash flow challenges, delayed or incomplete contributions from member states, and the need to balance fiscal discipline with the organization's operational requirements.
A total of 2,900 positions will be abolished as of Wednesday, according to Chandramouli Ramanathan, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Programme Planning, Finance and Budget and Controller.
The United Nations ended 2024 with arrears totaling 760 million U.S. dollars. As of Dec. 1, 2025, 709 million dollars from 2024 remained unpaid, while an additional 877 million dollars in 2025 dues had yet to be received, bringing total arrears to 1.586 billion dollars.
UN General Assembly adopts 3.45 bln USD program budget for 2026
