The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to reduce its workforce and cut its budget by 21% following the United States’ withdrawal of funding.
An internal memo dated March 28, signed by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, states, “The United States’ announcement, combined with recent reductions in official development assistance by some countries to fund increased defence spending, has made our situation much more acute.”
The U.S. withdrawal, initiated by President Donald Trump’s administration in January, cited the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises. The U.S. had been the WHO’s largest financial contributor, providing approximately 18% of its overall funding.
Facing a nearly $600 million income gap this year, the WHO proposes reducing its 2026-27 budget from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion. The memo indicates that job reductions will affect all levels and regions, with significant cuts at the Geneva headquarters.
The organization aims to finalize decisions on work prioritization and resource allocation by the end of April.
