🔗 Share this article World Health Organization Confronts Significant Staff Reduction Following United States Funding Pullout The international public health agency has announced intentions to reduce its staff by nearly a quarter – amounting to more than two thousand jobs – by the middle of 2026. Funding Crisis Prompts Major Restructuring This move comes after the US, previously the organization's biggest contributor, pulled out funding previously this period. Washington was contributing approximately 18% of the agency's total funding, creating a significant budgetary gap. Projected Workforce Reductions Based on organizational projections, the staff will decrease from nine thousand four hundred and one posts in early 2025 to approximately seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026. The reduction of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one posts includes staff reductions, employees retiring, and regular attrition. "This year was one of the most difficult in WHO's existence, as we have navigated a painful but necessary process of prioritization and realignment," commented the organization's director-general. Financial Gap Persists This Switzerland-headquartered organization now faces a funding shortfall of $1.06bn for the upcoming period, amounting to nearly a fourth of its total budget. The figure marks an reduction from a previous estimated shortfall of $1.7bn noted in spring. Not Included Finances These financial calculations do not include an additional 1.1 billion dollars in expected funding from ongoing discussions with various contributors. A spokesperson for the organization noted that the current unfunded portion of the biennial budget is in fact smaller than in earlier periods, crediting this to multiple factors: Reduced total budget The launch of a fresh fundraising campaign Higher in member states' required fees The realignment initiative is now nearing its end, paving the way for the organization to move forward with a renewed structure.