Overview

• The United States has refused to pay its statutory contributions for 2024 and 2025, creating a significant funding gap for the WHO.
• WHO leadership has unveiled plans to reduce its Geneva management team from 12 to 7 members and cut the number of departments from 76 to 34.
• The organization is preparing for broader layoffs, with the payroll deficit representing approximately 25% of its personnel costs.
• The funding crisis has been exacerbated by reduced development aid from other donor countries, further threatening global health initiatives.
• The WHO is bracing for the full withdrawal of the U.S., historically its largest donor, set to take effect in January 2026.