A confidential memo obtained by Reuters reveals that the Geneva-based agency under the United Nations is preparing to slash its budget by 21 percent and reduce its workforce. The memo comes after the U.S. – the WHO's largest donor – formally withdrew under Trump in January. Since then, the WHO has desperately scrambled for alternative funding – including a failed public begging campaign.
The internal WHO memo, dated March 28 was signed by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Tedros bluntly admitted in the document that the organization has "no choice but to reduce the scale of our work and workforce" following the U.S. departure.
According to the memo, the budget for 2026 to 2027 will be cut from an initial $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion. Layoffs are also expected across all levels, including senior leadership in Geneva. The WHO employs 25 percent of its 9,473-strong staff in its Swiss headquarters alone.
Trump justified Washington's withdrawal from the WHO by accusing the global health body of mishandling the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and kowtowing to China. The withdrawal, Reuters mentions, has left a staggering $706 million shortfall in the agency's 2024 to 2025 budget....<<<Read More>>>....
