One of the great perks of working abroad for the United Nations: an education grant of about $30,000 a year for each of your children. Foreign nationals working in U.N. headquarters can receive as much as half of the tuition costs for a private American university. Americans posted in foreign duty stations, but not on U.S. soil, can also claim the benefit.
But the Trump administration, with backing from the European Union, is trying to claw back funding for such staff entitlements, arguing that they have become too generous over the years and out of line with benefits awarded to comparable government workers. The U.S., meanwhile, has made it clear that Washington will not be satisfied with proposed U.N. cuts that would reduce overall spending in 2026 by 15% and result in the reduction of some 2,600 posts.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he has been able to insulate U.N. staff from some of the impact of such cuts by offering “voluntary separation” packages and by moving workers whose posts are eliminated to vacant posts. That effort, he said, has been made possible because the percentage of posts slated for elimination — some 18.8% of overall staff — closely matches the share of budgeted posts, around 18%, that remain vacant. The surge in vacant posts is the result of a liquidity crisis, caused primarily by the failure of the U.S. to pay its dues to the U.N. in full and on time, thereby forcing the U.N. not to replace workers when they move on.
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
