Funding crisis hits WHO: Document reveals 2,000 job cuts by 2026

The World Health Organization will cut more than 2,000 jobs by mid-2026 as it restructures in the wake of the United States’ withdrawal and a widening funding gap, according to an internal presentation seen by Reuters. The reduction represents nearly a quarter of the agency’s workforce and marks one of the most significant contractions in its history.

The Geneva-based body projects its global staff will fall by 2,371 positions between January 2025 and June 2026, shrinking the workforce from 9,401 roles as a combination of job cuts, retirements and voluntary departures take effect. A spokesperson told Reuters the overall reduction could reach 22%, depending on how many vacant posts are ultimately filled. Temporary staff and consultants who have already exited are not fully reflected in the count.

Impact of U.S. Withdrawal

The job losses follow Washington’s decision to leave the organisation earlier this year, a move announced by U.S. President Donald Trump upon taking office. The United States is the WHO’s largest financial backer, historically providing about 18% of its total funding. Its departure prompted the agency to scale back workstreams and halve parts of its management structure.

WHO officials said several hundred staff had already left since August, but the new figures outline for the first time the full expected scale of the restructuring.

In a message to staff seen by Reuters, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the severity of the retrenchment. “This year has been one of the most difficult in WHO’s history, as we have navigated a painful but necessary process of prioritisation and realignment,” he said, adding that the organisation was “preparing to move forward with our reshaped and renewed Organisation”.

The internal slides indicate the WHO faces a $1.06 billion funding shortfall for its 2026–2027 budget — nearly a quarter of its total requirement — though this represents an improvement from the estimated $1.7 billion gap reported in May. That figure excludes roughly $1.1 billion in expected income from agreements at various negotiation stages.

A WHO spokesperson said the lower unfunded portion of the two-year budget was due to a reduced budget envelope, an ongoing fundraising drive and an increase in mandatory member-state contributions.

The contraction comes at a moment when the organisation is attempting to maintain global health programmes while managing political pressure and shifting donor commitments. The restructuring is expected to influence the WHO’s operational capacity for years to come, with member states due to review the financial plan and reform measures in upcoming meetings.

The cuts also mark a broader test of how multilateral health institutions adapt to sharp funding reversals and geopolitical uncertainty — challenges likely to shape the WHO’s strategic direction through the decade.