WHO Faces Major Workforce Cuts After United States Funding Withdrawal
The global health agency revealed intentions to cut its staff by nearly a quarter – totaling more than two thousand positions – by mid-2026.
Funding Crisis Triggers Substantial Restructuring
The move follows after the US, formerly the organization's largest contributor, pulled out financial support earlier this period.
Washington had been responsible for about eighteen percent of the agency's overall budget, causing a significant financial gap.
Projected Workforce Cuts
According to internal estimates, the workforce will decrease from 9,401 positions in January 2025 to approximately 7,030 by mid-2026.
This reduction of 2,371 positions comprises staff reductions, employees retiring, and regular attrition.
"This year was one of the toughest in our existence, as we have navigated a challenging but necessary process of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's director-general.
Financial Shortfall Persists
The Switzerland-headquartered organization now faces a funding shortfall of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to nearly a quarter of its total funding.
The figure marks an reduction from a prior estimated gap of $1.7bn reported in spring.
Excluded Finances
These financial projections exclude an additional 1.1 billion dollars in potential contributions from ongoing negotiations with multiple contributors.
The representative for the agency stated that the present unfunded part of the biennial budget is in fact lower than in previous periods, crediting this to multiple reasons:
- Reduced total budget size
- The launch of a new fundraising effort
- An increase in member states' mandatory contributions
This restructuring initiative is currently approaching its completion, paving the way for the agency to move forward with a renewed operational model.