WHO Faces Major Workforce Reduction Following US Financial Pullout
The international public health organization disclosed intentions to cut its staff by nearly a fourth – amounting to over 2,000 positions – by the middle of 2026.
Funding Shortfall Triggers Major Reorganization
The move comes following the United States, formerly the agency's largest donor, withdrew funding earlier this year.
The US government had been responsible for approximately eighteen percent of the agency's total funding, causing a substantial budgetary gap.
Expected Staff Reductions
Based on internal estimates, the staff is expected to drop from 9,401 positions in January 2025 to around seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026.
The decrease of 2,371 positions includes job cuts, retirements, and regular attrition.
"This year has been one of the toughest in WHO's existence, while we have navigated a painful but necessary journey of prioritisation and restructuring," commented the agency's leader.
Budget Shortfall Persists
This Geneva-based organization currently confronts a funding gap of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 period, amounting to nearly a fourth of its required budget.
This figure represents an improvement from a prior projected shortfall of $1.7bn noted in May.
Not Included Finances
These budget projections do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in potential contributions from current discussions with multiple contributors.
A representative for the agency noted that the present unsecured portion of the budget is in fact smaller than in earlier periods, crediting this to multiple reasons:
- Reduced overall budget size
- The launch of a new fundraising campaign
- An increase in member states' required fees
This restructuring process is now nearing its completion, paving the way for the organization to move forward with a reshaped structure.
