🔗 Share this article WHO Confronts Major Workforce Reduction After United States Funding Pullout This global public health agency disclosed intentions to cut its staff by almost a fourth – amounting to over two thousand positions – before mid-2026. Funding Shortfall Prompts Major Reorganization This move comes following the US, previously the organization's largest donor, withdrew financial support previously this period. Washington had been responsible for about 18% of the organization's overall budget, creating a significant budgetary shortfall. Expected Staff Cuts According to organizational projections, the workforce is expected to drop from nine thousand four hundred and one positions in January 2025 to approximately seven thousand and thirty by mid-2026. The decrease of two thousand three hundred and seventy-one positions includes job cuts, retirements, and natural attrition. "This year has been one of the toughest in our existence, as we undertook a challenging but necessary journey of prioritization and restructuring," stated the agency's leader. Financial Gap Remains The Geneva-based body now confronts a budget shortfall of 1.06 billion dollars for the upcoming biennium, representing almost a fourth of its total funding. This figure marks an reduction from a previous projected shortfall of 1.7 billion dollars reported in May. Excluded Funding These financial calculations exclude a further 1.1 billion dollars in potential contributions from ongoing discussions with multiple contributors. The representative for the agency stated that the present unsecured part of the budget is in fact lower than in previous years, crediting this to several reasons: A smaller overall budget Initiation of a new donor outreach effort An increase in member states' required contributions This realignment initiative is now nearing its end, allowing the organization to progress with a reshaped structure.