🔗 Share this article World Health Organization Faces Significant Workforce Cuts Following US Financial Withdrawal The global health agency revealed plans to reduce its workforce by nearly a fourth – totaling over two thousand positions – before the middle of 2026. Funding Crisis Prompts Major Restructuring The move follows after the US, formerly the organization's biggest contributor, withdrew funding earlier this period. Washington was responsible for about 18% of the organization's overall funding, causing a substantial budgetary gap. Projected Staff Reductions According to internal estimates, the workforce is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one posts in January 2025 to around 7,030 by June 2026. The decrease of 2,371 posts comprises staff reductions, retirements, and natural attrition. "The past year has been among the toughest in WHO's history, as we undertook a painful but necessary process of prioritisation and realignment," commented the organization's leader. Financial Shortfall Persists This Switzerland-headquartered organization now confronts a budget shortfall of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 period, representing nearly a quarter of its total funding. This figure represents an improvement from a prior projected gap of 1.7 billion dollars noted in May. Not Included Finances The financial projections exclude an additional $1.1bn in potential contributions from current discussions with various donors. A spokesperson for the agency noted that the present unfunded portion of the biennial budget is actually smaller than in earlier periods, attributing this to several reasons: Reduced total budget size Initiation of a new donor outreach campaign An increase in participating countries' mandatory contributions This realignment initiative is now nearing its end, allowing the organization to move forward with a renewed structure.