🔗 Share this article WHO Faces Significant Staff Reduction After United States Financial Pullout This international health organization has announced intentions to reduce its workforce by nearly a fourth – amounting to more than 2,000 jobs – before mid-2026. Funding Shortfall Triggers Substantial Restructuring This decision comes after the US, formerly the agency's largest contributor, pulled out financial support earlier this year. Washington was responsible for approximately eighteen percent of the agency's overall budget, causing a significant financial gap. Expected Staff Cuts According to internal estimates, the workforce will decrease from 9,401 positions in early 2025 to approximately 7,030 by mid-2026. This reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions includes job cuts, retirements, and regular attrition. "This year has been one of the most difficult in our history, while we undertook a challenging but necessary process of prioritization and restructuring," stated the agency's leader. Financial Gap Persists The Geneva-based organization now confronts a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming biennium, representing almost a quarter of its total funding. This amount represents an improvement from a previous projected shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars noted in spring. Excluded Funding The financial projections exclude an additional 1.1 billion dollars in potential contributions from current negotiations with multiple contributors. The representative for the organization noted that the current unsecured portion of the biennial budget is in fact lower than in previous years, crediting this to multiple reasons: Reduced total budget Initiation of a new fundraising effort An increase in member states' required contributions This realignment process is now nearing its end, allowing the organization to progress with a renewed operational model.