🔗 Share this article WHO Confronts Major Staff Cuts After US Funding Withdrawal The global public health organization disclosed plans to cut its staff by nearly a fourth – amounting to over 2,000 jobs – by the middle of 2026. Funding Crisis Triggers Major Restructuring The decision comes after the US, formerly the organization's biggest donor, pulled out funding earlier this year. Washington had been contributing approximately eighteen percent of the organization's total budget, creating a substantial budgetary gap. Expected Workforce Cuts Based on internal projections, the staff will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in January 2025 to around seven thousand and thirty by June 2026. This reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions includes job cuts, employees retiring, and regular departures. "This year was among the toughest in WHO's history, while we undertook a challenging but essential process of prioritization and realignment," stated the organization's director-general. Budget Gap Persists This Geneva-based body currently confronts a funding gap of $1.06bn for the 2026-2027 biennium, representing nearly a quarter of its required budget. This figure marks an reduction from a prior estimated shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars noted in spring. Not Included Funding The financial projections exclude a further $1.1bn in expected funding from ongoing discussions with various contributors. The spokesperson for the organization stated that the present unfunded portion of the biennial budget is in fact smaller than in earlier years, attributing this to multiple reasons: A smaller total budget The launch of a new fundraising campaign An increase in participating countries' mandatory contributions The realignment initiative is currently approaching its end, allowing the organization to move forward with a reshaped structure.