WHO Faces Major Staff Cuts After United States Funding Pullout
The international health agency has announced plans to cut its staff by nearly a quarter – totaling over 2,000 jobs – before mid-2026.
Funding Shortfall Triggers Substantial Reorganization
This move follows following the US, formerly the organization's biggest donor, withdrew funding previously this year.
Washington had been responsible for about 18% of the organization's overall funding, causing a substantial financial gap.
Projected Workforce Cuts
Based on internal estimates, the staff will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in early 2025 to approximately 7,030 by mid-2026.
The decrease of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one posts comprises staff reductions, employees retiring, and regular departures.
"The past year has been among the most difficult in our existence, as we undertook a painful but necessary process of prioritization and restructuring," stated the organization's director-general.
Budget Gap Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered organization now confronts a budget shortfall of $1.06bn for the upcoming period, representing almost a quarter of its required budget.
The figure represents an reduction from a previous projected shortfall of $1.7bn reported in spring.
Not Included Funding
These budget calculations exclude an additional $1.1bn in potential funding from ongoing discussions with various contributors.
The spokesperson for the organization noted that the present unfunded portion of the budget is actually smaller than in previous years, attributing this to multiple factors:
- Reduced total budget
- Initiation of a fresh donor outreach campaign
- An increase in member states' required fees
This realignment initiative is now approaching its completion, allowing the organization to move forward with a renewed operational model.
