United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that budget cuts under U.S. President Donald Trump have placed the UN on the “verge of immediate bankruptcy”, with the organization likely to face a cash shortfall by July.
On Friday, January 30, Guterres wrote in a letter to diplomats that the budget deficit and unpaid membership dues, combined with a law requiring the UN to return unspent funds, have exacerbated the financial crisis.
He urged member states to fulfill their financial commitments fully and on time or to fundamentally reform the organization’s financial rules.
Reports indicate that during his presidency, Trump cut funding for 31 UN agencies, including the Human Rights Council and the UN Relief and Employment Agency, prioritizing domestic U.S. foreign aid reductions.
Guterres warned that these policies threaten the operation of global humanitarian programs and put the continuation of UN activities at risk.
