WHO Faces Significant Workforce Cuts Following United States Financial Pullout
The international public health organization disclosed intentions to cut its workforce by nearly a quarter – totaling more than two thousand jobs – by mid-2026.
Financial Shortfall Prompts Substantial Restructuring
The move comes following the United States, previously the organization's largest donor, pulled out financial support earlier this period.
The US government had been responsible for approximately 18% of the agency's total budget, creating a substantial financial shortfall.
Expected Workforce Cuts
Based on organizational estimates, the workforce will decrease from 9,401 positions in early 2025 to around 7,030 by mid-2026.
The reduction of 2,371 posts includes staff reductions, employees retiring, and natural departures.
"The past year has been one of the toughest in WHO's history, while we undertook a challenging but necessary journey of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's leader.
Budget Gap Remains
This Geneva-based organization currently faces a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, amounting to nearly a fourth of its required budget.
This amount represents an reduction from a prior projected shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars reported in May.
Excluded Funding
These budget calculations exclude an additional $1.1bn in potential funding from current negotiations with multiple contributors.
The representative for the organization noted that the current unsecured part of the budget is actually lower than in earlier years, crediting this to several factors:
- A smaller overall budget size
- The launch of a fresh fundraising effort
- An increase in participating countries' required contributions
The restructuring process is now approaching its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a renewed structure.
