The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that its global workforce will shrink by nearly a quarter by mid-2026, following the withdrawal of its largest donor, the United States. After the Trump administration formally exited the agency in January, WHO began scaling back its operations, including cutting its management team by half. The U.S. previously provided about 18 percent of WHO’s total funding, making the impact of its departure particularly significant.
According to an internal presentation prepared for member states, WHO expects its staff to decline by 2,371 positions between January 2025 and June 2026, reducing the workforce from 9,401 employees. This figure does not include temporary staff or consultants, many of whom have already been let go. A WHO spokesperson confirmed the projected reductions, noting that the final percentage may vary depending on how many vacant roles remain unfilled.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged the severity of the situation, calling the past year one of the most difficult in the agency’s history due to the extensive restructuring required. He said the organization is nearing the end of this challenging transition and is preparing to move forward with a renewed structure.
Financial pressures remain a major challenge. WHO’s 2026–2027 budget shows a funding gap of $1.06 billion—nearly a quarter of what the agency needs—though this is an improvement from the $1.7 billion gap estimated in May. This shortfall excludes roughly $1.1 billion in anticipated contributions currently under negotiation. The spokesperson added that the unfunded portion is smaller than in previous years due to a reduced budget, new fundraising efforts, and increased mandatory contributions from member states.
