🔗 Share this article WHO Faces Major Workforce Reduction After United States Financial Withdrawal This international health agency has announced plans to cut its staff by almost a quarter – totaling more than two thousand jobs – by mid-2026. Funding Shortfall Triggers Major Restructuring This move follows after the United States, formerly the organization's biggest contributor, withdrew funding earlier this period. Washington had been responsible for approximately 18% of the agency's overall funding, creating a substantial financial shortfall. Expected Staff Cuts According to organizational projections, the staff will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in January 2025 to around 7,030 by June 2026. This reduction of 2,371 positions includes job cuts, employees retiring, and regular departures. "This year was one of the most difficult in WHO's history, while we undertook a painful but essential journey of prioritisation and realignment," commented the agency's director-general. Financial Gap Persists The Switzerland-headquartered organization now confronts a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming biennium, representing nearly a fourth of its total budget. The amount marks an improvement from a previous estimated shortfall of $1.7bn noted in spring. Not Included Finances These financial calculations do not include an additional $1.1bn in potential contributions from ongoing negotiations with multiple donors. The representative for the organization stated that the present unfunded portion of the budget is in fact lower than in previous periods, crediting this to multiple factors: Reduced overall budget size The launch of a fresh donor outreach effort An increase in participating countries' mandatory contributions The realignment initiative is currently approaching its end, paving the way for the organization to progress with a renewed structure.