The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to reduce its budget by $400 million due to the decision of US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the international health body.
The United States, which has been the largest governmental contributor to the WHO, is responsible for a significant portion of its funding, and its departure has created a funding shortfall.
During the opening of the WHO's annual executive board meeting on Monday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defended the organization's recent reforms and reiterated calls for the US to reconsider its withdrawal.
He emphasized the importance of dialogue and changes to better serve global health needs, expressing a willingness to listen to suggestions from the US and other member states.
The budget cuts will be discussed in a meeting held in Geneva from February 3 to 11, 2025, where member states will review the WHO’s funding and work for the 2026-2027 period.
According to a document released on Monday, the WHO's executive board is proposing to reduce its core program budget from $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion, within an overall budget of $7.5 billion for 2026-2027.
This budget includes funding for critical initiatives such as polio eradication and emergency response efforts.
The document notes that with the departure of its largest financial contributor, the WHO cannot maintain its previous budget levels.
The US had contributed about 18% of the organization's total funding. However, the document also highlighted that some board members wanted to send a message that the WHO would continue to maintain its strategic direction despite the challenges posed by the funding cuts.
The proposed $4.9 billion budget for core programs would closely align with the WHO’s budget for the 2024-2025 period.
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