WHO to Reduce Spending and Focus on Health Initiatives Following U.S. Withdrawal Announcement
The World Health Organization intends to implement cost-saving strategies and prioritize programs in response to the U.S.'s announcement of its planned exit in 2026.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to implement cost-cutting strategies and reassess its priorities following the United States' decision to withdraw from the agency.
This decision came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 23, 2023, that the WHO had mismanaged the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus communicated the move to staff in an internal memo, emphasizing the financial repercussions of the U.S. departure on the organization.
The U.S., which provides roughly 18% of WHO's funding and is its largest financial supporter, will see its withdrawal take effect in January 2026, after a one-year notice period mandated by a 1948 U.S. congressional resolution.
The U.S. currently owes about $130 million in membership fees, which were due in January 2024. Furthermore, it has not yet paid the 2025 assessment, raising concerns that voluntary contributions earmarked for specific programs may cease. To alleviate the financial burden, the WHO intends to trim travel expenses, freeze non-essential hiring, and implement other savings measures, such as making meetings virtual by default, limiting IT equipment updates, and suspending office renovations unless they are safety-related or pre-approved. Despite the financial challenges, the WHO has been pursuing reforms to its funding model, with member states boosting their contributions and joining an investment round launched in 2023. Nonetheless, the organization recognizes that more funds will be necessary, and additional cost-cutting measures might be required.
The WHO is dedicated to supporting its staff during this period of financial transition.
This decision came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on January 23, 2023, that the WHO had mismanaged the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus communicated the move to staff in an internal memo, emphasizing the financial repercussions of the U.S. departure on the organization.
The U.S., which provides roughly 18% of WHO's funding and is its largest financial supporter, will see its withdrawal take effect in January 2026, after a one-year notice period mandated by a 1948 U.S. congressional resolution.
The U.S. currently owes about $130 million in membership fees, which were due in January 2024. Furthermore, it has not yet paid the 2025 assessment, raising concerns that voluntary contributions earmarked for specific programs may cease. To alleviate the financial burden, the WHO intends to trim travel expenses, freeze non-essential hiring, and implement other savings measures, such as making meetings virtual by default, limiting IT equipment updates, and suspending office renovations unless they are safety-related or pre-approved. Despite the financial challenges, the WHO has been pursuing reforms to its funding model, with member states boosting their contributions and joining an investment round launched in 2023. Nonetheless, the organization recognizes that more funds will be necessary, and additional cost-cutting measures might be required.
The WHO is dedicated to supporting its staff during this period of financial transition.
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