US Exit Forces WHO to Slash Budget by 21%, Downsizing Workforce

In a recent internal email, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus revealed that the World Health Organization (WHO) will be cutting its budget by 21% and downsizing its global workforce. This decision follows a significant loss of almost $600 million in funding, largely attributed to the U.S. withdrawal and a drop in foreign aid.

The United States, once the largest contributor to the WHO, pulled its funding after President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January and froze most foreign aid. This, along with other countries reallocating their aid to defense, has put the WHO in a serious financial bind. Consequently, the agency has slashed its proposed budget for 2026 to 2027 from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion, which is a hefty $1.1 billion less than what it had for the 2022 to 2023 budget.

According to Tedros, the budget cuts will lead the WHO to downsize its operations, starting with reductions in senior leadership at the headquarters and eventually affecting all regions. The U.S. provided $1.3 billion in its most recent funding cycle, making up 16.3% of the WHO’s budget, primarily through voluntary donations tied to specific projects rather than through fixed fees.

“We’re left with no choice but to downsize our operations,” Tedros said, saying that the agency had already put some efficiency measures in place prior to the US withdrawal. He expressed concern that these reductions would disrupt vital global health initiatives, including efforts in disease prevention and emergency responses.