The United Nations will undergo a “refreshment” for its 80th anniversary this year amid a financial crisis, looking for ways to improve efficiency and cut costs, senior officials at the world body said on Wednesday. But it should not be compared to US President Donald Trump’s initiative, Reuters reports.
“No DOGE, no Musk,” said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. He was referring to the Government Efficiency Agency, created by Trump and led by Elon Musk, which has implemented drastic cuts to the US federal administration.
The aim of the working group established by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would be to provide a "refresher" to the world organization and its agencies, funds and programs, said another UN official, who also wished to remain anonymous.
Officials acknowledged that Trump's return to office in January further spurred efforts for greater efficiency.
Trump said in February that the UN has “tremendous potential and ... we will continue to support them, but they need to get things right.” The UN responded at the time, saying that Guterres was working tirelessly to implement reforms.
"My goal is to act as soon as possible in the areas where I have authority - and to encourage member states to consider the many decisions that are within their jurisdiction," Guterres told reporters yesterday, announcing his UN80 initiative.
“This goes far beyond technical issues. UN budgets are not just numbers on a balance sheet - they are a matter of life and death for millions around the world. We must ensure cost-effectiveness while promoting shared values,” he said.
Reuters reports that the move comes as the UN, founded in October 1945, faces a liquidity crisis for at least the seventh year in a row. Guterres said that all 193 UN member states are not paying their mandatory regular contributions in full or on time.
UN budgets are not just numbers on a balance sheet, they are a matter of life and death for millions around the world. We must ensure cost-effectiveness while promoting shared values, said Guterres
The United Nations' regular budget for 2025 is $3,7 billion, which includes political, humanitarian, disarmament, economic, social and communication activities, according to Reuters. Contributions to most UN agencies, funds and programmes, such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF, are voluntary.
The two largest contributors to the regular budget, according to estimates agreed upon by the UN General Assembly, are the United States and China. Washington pays the maximum 22 percent, while China's contribution increased by five percentage points this year to 20 percent.
But China is now paying its obligations at the end of the year, six months later than before. The US is behind on payments and owes $1,5 billion. Washington made its last payment of $275 million in November, under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden.
Another UN official said there was “a lot of uncertainty” about this year’s budget. China has assured the UN it will pay in full this year, but it is not clear when, while the US has not yet been able to indicate to the UN how much it will contribute, the official said.
“We have decided to be very financially cautious between January and August,” the official said.
By March 7, 73 member states, just over a third, had paid their regular budget obligations in full. Amid the financial crisis, the UN has cut planned spending by up to 20 percent and imposed a hiring freeze.
Asked about possible layoffs as a result of efficiency efforts within UN80, the official said: “I can’t say at this point. What I can say is that everything is on the table and nothing is off the table.”
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