Washington DC (US): The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced plans to reduce its workforce by almost 25%, equating to over 2,000 positions, by mid-2026.
The move comes as the agency adjusts to major financial and structural changes after the United States, its largest contributor, withdrew funding.
The Trump administration formally exited the WHO in January, prompting the organization to scale back operations and halve its management team. The United States had historically provided around 18% of the agency’s total funding, making it the WHO’s single biggest financial backer.
According to a presentation scheduled for WHO member states, the Geneva-based body expects its staff numbers to fall from 9,401 in January 2025 to 7,030 by June 2026.
This reduction includes job cuts, retirements, and other departures. Temporary staff and consultants, many of whom have already been let go, are not included in this count.
A WHO spokesperson confirmed the organization anticipates a workforce decline of up to 22%, depending on how many vacancies are eventually filled.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the year as “one of the most challenging in WHO’s history,” citing a “painful but necessary” realignment and prioritization process that has significantly reshaped the global workforce. He added that the agency is now preparing to move forward with its renewed structure.
The presentation also revealed a $1.06 billion shortfall in WHO’s 2026-2027 budget, representing nearly a quarter of the total projected requirement.
This is an improvement from a previously estimated $1.7 billion gap in May. The shortfall does not include $1.1 billion in anticipated funding from ongoing negotiations.
A WHO spokesperson explained that the lower unfunded portion of the budget compared with previous years is due to a reduced overall budget, an active fundraising campaign, and an increase in mandatory contributions from member states.
