WHO Faces Significant Workforce Cuts After United States Funding Withdrawal
The international health agency has announced plans to cut its staff by nearly a quarter – amounting to more than 2,000 jobs – before mid-2026.
Financial Crisis Triggers Substantial Restructuring
The move follows following the US, formerly the agency's biggest donor, pulled out financial support previously this period.
The US government was contributing approximately eighteen percent of the agency's overall funding, causing a significant financial shortfall.
Projected Workforce Reductions
Based on organizational estimates, the staff will decrease from 9,401 positions in early 2025 to around seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026.
The decrease of 2,371 posts comprises staff reductions, employees retiring, and regular attrition.
"The past year was among the most difficult in WHO's history, while we undertook a challenging but essential journey of prioritisation and restructuring," commented the organization's director-general.
Financial Shortfall Remains
The Geneva-based body currently faces a funding gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 period, representing nearly a fourth of its required funding.
This amount represents an reduction from a previous projected shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars reported in May.
Excluded Funding
The financial projections do not include a further $1.1bn in potential contributions from current negotiations with multiple donors.
The representative for the agency stated that the current unsecured part of the biennial budget is in fact smaller than in previous periods, crediting this to several reasons:
- Reduced overall budget
- The launch of a new fundraising effort
- Higher in member states' mandatory contributions
This restructuring initiative is now approaching its completion, paving the way for the agency to progress with a reshaped operational model.
