World Health Organization Confronts Major Staff Cuts After US Funding Withdrawal
The international public health organization revealed plans to cut its staff by nearly a quarter – totaling more than 2,000 jobs – by mid-2026.
Financial Shortfall Prompts Major Reorganization
This move comes following the US, formerly the organization's biggest donor, pulled out funding earlier this year.
Washington was responsible for about 18% of the agency's overall funding, creating a substantial financial gap.
Projected Workforce Reductions
According to internal estimates, the workforce is expected to drop from 9,401 positions in January 2025 to approximately seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026.
The reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one posts includes job cuts, retirements, and regular departures.
"This year was one of the toughest in WHO's existence, while we undertook a painful but necessary journey of prioritization and realignment," stated the organization's director-general.
Financial Gap Remains
The Geneva-based organization currently confronts a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to nearly a quarter of its total budget.
This amount marks an reduction from a previous projected shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars noted in spring.
Excluded Finances
The financial calculations do not include an additional $1.1bn in potential contributions from ongoing discussions with various donors.
The spokesperson for the organization stated that the present unfunded portion of the biennial budget is actually smaller than in earlier periods, crediting this to several reasons:
- A smaller overall budget
- Initiation of a new donor outreach effort
- An increase in member states' required fees
The restructuring initiative is now nearing its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a renewed operational model.
