The World Health Organisation (WHO) is confronting a major financial gap this year and extending through 2027, following the United States’ decision to withdraw, even after making substantial cuts to its budget, according to a report released on Wednesday.
In anticipation of the US’s planned full withdrawal in January, the UN health agency has already reduced its two-year budget for 2026-2027 from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion. Despite these deep cuts, there remains a shortfall of $1.9 billion for the revised budget, as reported by Health Policy Watch.
This figure, disclosed during a staff town hall meeting on Tuesday, adds to the nearly $600 million deficit already identified for this year’s budget. The WHO has not yet commented on the report, which highlights the strain caused by the US’s departure as the organization’s largest historical donor.
When President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, he not only announced the US withdrawal from the WHO but also froze nearly all foreign aid, including vital health assistance for global health initiatives. During the 2022-2023 budget period, the US contributed $1.3 billion to the WHO, primarily through voluntary contributions for specific projects, rather than regular membership fees.
The United States has not paid its dues for 2024 and is unlikely to honor its membership obligations for 2025, leaving the WHO with an outstanding $260 million in membership fees for the 2024-2025 period.
Earlier, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus alerted staff to the $600 million shortfall in this year’s budget, stressing the agency’s limited options. In an email seen by AFP, Tedros acknowledged the severe disruption caused by cuts to official development assistance from the US and other countries, which he said are impacting nations, NGOs, and UN agencies, including the WHO.
The agency has begun making cuts in its operations, starting with senior leadership and extending to all levels and regions. “We are now at the point where we have no choice but to scale back our work and workforce,” Tedros stated.
In a recent appeal, Tedros urged Washington to reconsider its drastic reductions to global health funding, warning that halting key programs could have devastating consequences, including an estimated additional 10 million HIV cases and 3 million HIV-related deaths.
