The United Nations could become unable to pay its staff and suppliers by September and its peacekeepers by mid-2025, following an outsized projected deficit and a leaked White House proposal to end funding for the intergovernmental body, according to reports.
The U.N.’s $200 million deficit in 2024 is measly compared to the $1.1 billion deficit the organization is projected to incur at the end of 2025, barring any budget cuts, according to The Economist. The deficit reportedly will hobble the organization’s ability to pay salaries and suppliers by September.
The U.N. is billed to inform its member states Saturday that its $3.7 billion budget intended to help it avoid default had already been slashed by 17%, according to the outlet. The U.N. reportedly will pause hiring new staff because of the cuts. U.N. peacekeepers risk becoming unpaid by mid-2025, Secretary-General António Guterres reportedly warned in February.
Stringent budget rules and defaulting member states have left the U.N. cash strapped. A leaked Trump administration memo proposing to stop the U.S. from making mandatory contributions to the U.N. could bankrupt the body, according to the outlet.
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