Ambassador Jeff Bartos
U.S. Representative for U.N. Management and Reform
New York, New York
AS DELIVERED
Colleagues,
As we begin consideration of the 2026–2027 peacekeeping budgets, we do so at a moment that demands seriousness, discipline, and a clear-eyed focus on results. The Secretary-General has put forward a proposal of $5.23 billion—a reduction of nearly 7.5 percent overall, and more than 12 percent when excluding new mandates. This is another meaningful step forward, and combined with the reforms we achieved last December when we passed a slimmed-down 2026 Regular Budget, we continue our work to achieve a UN that is fit for purpose.
For years, member states have asked for peacekeeping that is leaner, more efficient, and more responsive to evolving realities on the ground. We are now beginning to see the contours of that shift. Reductions in civilian staffing, more disciplined budgeting assumptions, repatriation of personnel for underperformance and misconduct, and early returns from efficiency initiatives signal that reform is possible. But incremental change is not enough. We must continue to press for structural efficiencies that endure beyond a single budget cycle.
The United States approaches this session with a simple principle: peacekeeping must deliver real value. Every dollar entrusted to this organization carries the weight of our taxpayers’ expectations. That means mandates must be clear and achievable, missions must be right-sized, and resources must be aligned with performance.
We therefore support full implementation of the methodology for peacekeeping support functions adopted last year. These functions were designed to be scalable, yet too often they have grown disconnected from mission realities. Rationalizing headquarters staffing and support structures—whether in New York, Brindisi, or Entebbe—is not just a technical exercise; it is central to restoring credibility in how this institution manages resources.
We must also strengthen oversight and accountability. Oversight bodies—the Board of Auditors, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, and the Joint Inspection Unit—play an essential role in identifying waste, fraud, abuse, and systemic weaknesses. Their recommendations must be taken seriously, implemented in a timely manner, and protected from politicization. The United States will again seek adoption of a cross-cutting resolution to provide peacekeeping-wide guidance on critical issues, including delegation of authority, mission performance, and preventing sexual abuse and exploitation. We will simultaneously push for inclusion of mission-specific policy priorities in individual mission resolutions.
Finally, we must not lose sight of the broader financial framework in which we operate. Updating financial regulations, improving how credits are returned, and ensuring that reimbursement policies are sustainable are not abstract issues—they materially impact transparency and fiscal responsibility across the system.
Colleagues, peacekeeping remains one of the most visible and consequential tools of this organization. Its legitimacy depends on performance and discipline. The reductions proposed this year show that change is possible. Our task now is to ensure that these changes are durable and achieve a system that is more effective and more accountable, and that is worthy of the sacrifice of those who serve.
The United States remains committed to working with all delegations to achieve these consequential and durable reforms.
Thank you.
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