World Health Organization Faces Significant Staff Cuts Following US Financial Withdrawal

The international health organization has announced plans to cut its staff by almost a quarter – totaling over two thousand jobs – before the middle of 2026.

Funding Shortfall Prompts Substantial Restructuring

The move follows after the US, formerly the agency's biggest donor, withdrew financial support earlier this year.

Washington had been contributing about 18% of the agency's overall funding, creating a significant financial shortfall.

Projected Workforce Reductions

According to internal projections, the staff will decrease from 9,401 positions in January 2025 to approximately seven thousand and thirty by June 2026.

This decrease of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions includes staff reductions, retirements, and regular departures.

"This year has been one of the most difficult in our existence, as we undertook a painful but necessary process of prioritisation and realignment," commented the agency's leader.

Budget Gap Remains

This Geneva-based organization currently faces a funding gap of 1.06 billion dollars for the 2026-2027 biennium, representing nearly a fourth of its total budget.

The figure represents an improvement from a prior projected shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars reported in May.

Not Included Funding

The budget projections exclude an additional $1.1bn in potential contributions from ongoing negotiations with multiple donors.

The spokesperson for the agency noted that the present unfunded part of the biennial budget is in fact smaller than in previous years, crediting this to multiple reasons:

• A smaller overall budget size
• Initiation of a fresh fundraising campaign
• Higher in member states' mandatory fees

This restructuring initiative is now approaching its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a renewed operational model.