WHO Faces $1 Billion Funding Gap

The World Health Organization has announced that it needs $1bn to cover its upcoming budget for 2026–2027, as it works to compensate for the withdrawal of the United States earlier this year.

US President Donald Trump, whose country had been the largest donor to the UN agency, halted all funding after his return to the White House in January 2025. As a result, the organization cut its previously approved budget from $5.3bn to $4.2bn.

During a briefing to member states, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this year had been one of the most difficult in the WHO’s history, adding that a necessary process of prioritization and resource reallocation had led to a major reduction in its workforce. He noted that the organization is now nearing the end of this restructuring phase.

The WHO has secured about 75 per cent of the funding needed for 2026–2027 but still faces a $1bn deficit. Tedros said the organization is now in a far worse position in terms of mobilizing resources.

Member states approved a 20 per cent increase in mandatory contributions in May. However, the WHO continues to rely heavily on voluntary donations from governments and other donors.

Falling global aid has forced thousands of healthcare facilities to scale back services or suspend operations in regions already in urgent need of humanitarian support. As a result, the WHO has been prioritizing assistance for the most vulnerable communities.

Tedros explained that cost-cutting measures reduced the number of job cuts required by the organization, lowering the original estimate from 2,900 positions to 1,282. He also noted that 1,089 employees left voluntarily through retirement, early retirement schemes or the end of temporary contracts.