🔗 Share this article WHO Faces Significant Staff Cuts Following United States Financial Withdrawal The global public health agency disclosed intentions to cut its workforce by almost a fourth – totaling over 2,000 jobs – before mid-2026. Financial Crisis Triggers Major Reorganization This decision comes following the United States, previously the organization's biggest contributor, pulled out funding earlier this period. Washington had been responsible for approximately 18% of the agency's overall budget, causing a substantial financial shortfall. Expected Workforce Reductions Based on organizational projections, the staff will decrease from 9,401 posts in January 2025 to around seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026. This decrease of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions comprises job cuts, employees retiring, and natural attrition. "The past year has been among the most difficult in WHO's existence, as we undertook a painful but necessary journey of prioritisation and restructuring," stated the agency's leader. Financial Shortfall Remains The Switzerland-headquartered organization currently faces a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming period, representing nearly a quarter of its total budget. This figure marks an reduction from a prior projected gap of $1.7bn noted in May. Not Included Funding The financial projections do not include an additional $1.1bn in expected funding from current discussions with multiple donors. The representative for the organization stated that the present unsecured part of the biennial budget is actually smaller than in earlier years, attributing this to multiple factors: Reduced total budget size Initiation of a fresh fundraising campaign Higher in member states' mandatory contributions The realignment process is now nearing its completion, allowing the organization to progress with a renewed operational model.