WHO Faces Major Workforce Cuts After United States Funding Pullout
The international health agency revealed plans to cut its staff by almost a fourth – amounting to more than 2,000 jobs – before mid-2026.
Funding Crisis Prompts Substantial Reorganization
This decision follows after the US, formerly the agency's largest contributor, pulled out funding previously this period.
The US government was responsible for approximately 18% of the agency's overall funding, creating a significant financial shortfall.
Projected Workforce Reductions
Based on internal estimates, the workforce will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one posts in early 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.
The reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions includes job cuts, retirements, and natural departures.
"The past year was among the toughest in our existence, while we undertook a challenging but essential process of prioritization and restructuring," commented the organization's leader.
Financial Gap Persists
The Geneva-based organization currently faces a budget gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to almost a quarter of its required funding.
This amount represents an improvement from a previous estimated shortfall of $1.7bn reported in May.
Not Included Funding
These financial projections do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in potential funding from ongoing negotiations with multiple contributors.
A representative for the agency noted that the present unfunded part of the biennial budget is actually lower than in previous periods, attributing this to multiple reasons:
- Reduced total budget size
- Initiation of a new fundraising campaign
- An increase in participating countries' required contributions
This restructuring process is currently approaching its end, allowing the agency to move forward with a reshaped operational model.
