U.N. peacekeeping budget cut $550 million with U.S. support

The Trump administration says it secured more than $1 billion in reductions to United Nations budgets over six months. The latest step came June 30 when all 193 member states approved a peacekeeping budget of about $5.1 billion for the next fiscal year, $550 million or 9.7 percent below the prior year.

U.S. officials said the peacekeeping reduction, combined with an earlier cut to the U.N. regular budget approved in December, brings total assessed-budget savings above $1 billion. Assessed budgets are financed by mandatory contributions scaled to each member state's economy.

changes and new procedures U.S. Ambassador for U.N.

Management and Reform Jeff Bartos told Fox News Digital that the June 30 vote marked the second time in six months that all 193 countries approved reductions under U.S. leadership. He said any single cut of this size would be unprecedented. The General Assembly also approved a four-year trial that changes how the U.N. returns unspent budget credits.

Under the new rule, credits will be returned only when backed by cash actually received from member states. Officials said the change could save more than $1 billion over three years.

reform steps Bartos said the administration will next seek changes to staff compensation, employee benefits, and the U.N. pension system. He said those areas use resources that could otherwise support humanitarian and peacekeeping work. The United Nations welcomed the unspent-funds reform. Secretary-General António Guterres said he had pushed for the change for almost a decade.