The World Health Organization (WHO) is reportedly set to announce a reduction of its budget by more than 20%.
It was gathered that the move was purportedly prompted by a severe funding shortfall after the United States, its largest financial contributor, withdrew support earlier this year.
The decision was outlined in a leaked internal email from WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
It would be recalled that the U.S., which historically accounted for about 18% of WHO’s funding, pulled out in January under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Trump had cited dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises as the reason for the exit.
Reports suggest that exit has left WHO grappling with an income gap of nearly $600 million for 2025.
In the leaked memo, Tedros warned that the cuts would scale back critical programs, including polio eradication, emergency response efforts, and health initiatives in vulnerable regions. “We have no choice but to adapt to this new reality,” he stated.
The leaked memo reads in part: “Dramatic cuts to official development assistance by the United States of America and others are causing massive disruption to countries, NGOs and United Nations agencies, including WHO.’’
“The United States’ announcement, combined with recent reductions in official development assistance by some countries to fund increased defence spending, has made our situation much more acute.
“While we have achieved substantial cost savings, the prevailing economic and geopolitical conditions have made resource mobilisation particularly difficult.
“As a result, we are facing an income gap of almost $600 million this year alone.”
