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WHO Faces Cuts: A Financial Crisis Unfolds
The World Health Organization (WHO) is reeling as it plans to slash its workforce and scale back its operations, thanks to the crippling effects of U.S. funding cuts. An internal memorandum, obtained by Reuters, reveals that the agency is facing a staggering budget reduction of over 20% due to the withdrawal of vital U.S. financial support.
In January, President Donald Trump initiated this withdrawal, condemning the WHO for its failure to adequately address the Covid-19 pandemic and a multitude of other global health crises. Make no mistake: the United States is the heavy hitter here, supplying roughly 18% of the WHO’s total funding. Without this critical cash flow, the agency is left scrambling.
“The announcement of the United States, combined with the recent reductions in official development aid by some countries to finance a higher defense expense, has aggravated our situation much more,” stated Tedros Adanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.
The Financial Meltdown Intensifies
With American financial support evaporating, the WHO finds itself in a full-blown financing crisis. Struggling with a revenue deficit of around €553.55 million (approximately $600 million) this year, the agency is forced to propose drastic budget cuts. For the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal period, the WHO plans to shrink its budget by a shocking 21%, slashing it from €4.89 billion to just €3.875 billion (from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion).
Just a month prior, in February, the WHO Executive Council had already trimmed the proposed budget, which raises serious questions about the organization’s ability to function effectively in the future.
“Despite our efforts, we are now at a point where we have no choice but to reduce the scale of our work and personnel,” the memorandum chillingly warns.
Layoffs on the Horizon
Job cuts are not a distant threat but an imminent reality. The WHO will begin reducing positions, particularly in senior management at its Geneva headquarters, though the slashes will reverberate through all levels. By the end of April, WHO is set to make pivotal decisions on how to allocate drastically reduced resources, putting the future of global health in jeopardy.
This crisis not only highlights the fragility of international health organizations but raises an urgent alarm about the consequences of diminished U.S. engagement on a global scale. Who will fill the void left by America’s retreat?
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