WHO to Cut Nearly a Quarter of Workforce Amid Funding Shortfall
WHO to Cut Nearly a Quarter of Workforce Amid Funding Shortfall
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that its workforce will shrink by almost a quarter, or more than 2,000 positions, by mid-2026 as it implements reforms following the withdrawal of the United States from the agency, as reported by The Guardian. The US, WHO’s largest donor, contributed approximately 18% of the agency’s total funding before its departure.
The Geneva-based organization said the workforce is expected to decline by 2,371 posts, down from 9,401 in January 2025, due to a combination of layoffs, retirements, and staff departures. This projection does not include temporary employees or consultants, many of whom have already been let go. A WHO spokesperson confirmed that the total reduction could reach 22%, depending on the filling of vacant positions.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the scale of the cuts in a message to staff, describing the past year as “one of the most difficult” in WHO’s history. He emphasized that the restructuring was part of a necessary process of prioritization and realignment and said the organization is preparing to move forward in a “reshaped and renewed” form.
The WHO also highlighted a $1.06 billion shortfall in its 2026–2027 budget, nearly a quarter of the total requirement, though this represents an improvement from a $1.7 billion gap estimated in May. The figure does not include an additional $1.1 billion of funding in various stages of negotiation.
A WHO spokesperson attributed the smaller funding gap to a reduced budget, an ongoing fundraising round, and an increase in member states’ mandatory contributions. The organization said it aims to continue providing global health services despite the staff and budget reductions.
