U.S. Cuts to United Nations Budget
WASHINGTON — In a significant move, U.S. ambassadors have made substantial reductions to the United Nations budget, aligning with President Trump’s vision to streamline the organization.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Walz and Ambassador for Management and Reform Jeffrey Bartos shared with the Post that they managed to cut the overall U.N. budget by $570 million, while the U.S. share of payments decreased by approximately $126 million.
“This marks the first significant budget cuts for the United Nations in modern history, nearly since its inception,” Walz told the Post. “They’ve never experienced anything like this.”
Walz, a former national security adviser, explained that this move aims to create a smaller, more efficient organization. “This will lead to a leaner and less duplicative structure,” he mentioned.
Bartos emphasized this initiative reflects the President’s goal to reform the U.N. and ensure it serves its intended purpose effectively.
During their conversation, Walz and Bartos detailed how they achieved a 15.2% reduction in the U.N. budget for 2026 compared to the previous year, while still asserting the organization’s relevance.
The cuts include a $110 million reduction in funding for the United Nations Secretariat, responsible for daily operations, and a $160 million decrease for field missions, contributing to an overall $300 million reduction from the previously inflated budget.
The ambassadors noted that around 2,900 bureaucratic positions in the U.N. were eliminated, leading to further cost savings.
As the U.S. typically covers about 22% of the U.N.’s annual budget, the savings effectively mean a reduction of about $126 million for American taxpayers.
Bartos highlighted some surprising expenditures that have accrued since the U.N. was founded in 1945. He specifically mentioned billions allocated for conferences and employee compensation, which he described as shocking.
“In 2024, the United Nations spent $340 million on conferences, a staggering figure,” Bartos remarked. “The overall compensation system is around $16 billion out of a $64 billion global budget.” He added that about $2.1 billion is earmarked for pension plans, which are increasingly rare outside of the U.N. today.
The ambassadors discussed the need for modernization regarding the pension system and revamping the compensation structure.
Bartos encapsulated their approach by asking, “What makes sense and what doesn’t?” He expressed doubt that the existing compensation system meets common sense standards.
While they value the United Nations as a diplomatic hub, both Walz and Bartos pushed back against suggestions for the U.S. to withdraw from the organization.
“There needs to be a central place for global dialogue,” Walz stated. He mentioned that the U.S. should retain its position as that central point, rather than shifting focus to places like Brussels or Beijing.
However, Walz emphasized that “burden sharing” remains essential to the President’s “America First” policy.
He cited ongoing conflicts and humanitarian issues that the U.N. must help address, illustrating with the situation in Haiti, where the Biden administration contributed $1 billion to combat gangs, part of which was allocated to the U.N.
Walz mentioned plans for an international stabilization force in Gaza, expressing a clear desire to minimize U.S. troop involvement there.
“This organization has to help share the burden, focusing on stopping or preventing wars rather than on other matters,” he stated.
Bartos concluded with the notion that while the U.N. possesses potential, it has yet to fully realize it. “The president directed us, and we delivered on that vision,” he said.
