WHO Faces Significant Workforce Cuts Following United States Funding Withdrawal
The international public health organization revealed plans to reduce its workforce by nearly a fourth – amounting to more than two thousand positions – by mid-2026.
Funding Shortfall Prompts Substantial Restructuring
The move follows after the United States, previously the agency's biggest donor, withdrew financial support previously this period.
The US government was contributing approximately 18% of the organization's total budget, creating a substantial financial gap.
Expected Workforce Cuts
According to organizational projections, the staff is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in January 2025 to around 7,030 by June 2026.
This reduction of 2,371 posts includes staff reductions, employees retiring, and regular attrition.
"This year has been among the toughest in WHO's history, as we undertook a challenging but essential journey of prioritisation and restructuring," commented the agency's leader.
Budget Gap Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered body currently confronts a budget shortfall of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to almost a quarter of its total funding.
This figure marks an improvement from a prior projected shortfall of $1.7bn noted in May.
Not Included Funding
These budget projections do not include a further $1.1bn in potential funding from current discussions with multiple donors.
A representative for the organization stated that the present unsecured part of the budget is in fact lower than in earlier periods, attributing this to several reasons:
- Reduced total budget
- Initiation of a fresh donor outreach effort
- An increase in participating countries' required contributions
This restructuring initiative is now nearing its completion, paving the way for the agency to progress with a reshaped operational model.
