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As Donald Trump accelerates the rollback of U.S. involvement in international aid, the World Health Organization (WHO) faces an existential crisis - how to sustain critical global health programs while navigating a $400 million budget shortfall.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to discuss a $400 million budget cut following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States—its largest government donor—from the agency, according to documents released on Monday.
Trump formally initiated the U.S. withdrawal from WHO on his first day back in office two weeks ago, a process that could take at least one year to complete under U.S. law. Tedros has directly addressed Trump’s criticisms, defending WHO’s response to COVID-19 and its independence.
The proposed budget reduction will be debated at the Feb. 3–11 Geneva meeting, where representatives will outline funding for the agency’s 2026–2027 cycle. The executive board has proposed reducing the core programs budget from a projected $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion as part of a broader $7.5 billion package that includes funding for polio eradication and emergency response efforts.
The U.S. currently provides about 18% of WHO’s total funding, and the agency has already implemented cost-cutting measures in response to the decision. The revised $4.9 billion base budget is similar to that of 2024–2025.
At the opening of WHO’s annual executive board meeting, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defended the organization’s reforms and urged Washington to reconsider its departure.
"We would welcome suggestions from the United States and all member states for how we can serve you and the people of the world better," Tedros said.
WHO's Health Programs At Risk
The financial impact of the U.S. withdrawal is severe. The U.S. funds 95% of WHO’s tuberculosis work in Europe and over 60% of its TB efforts in Africa and the Western Pacific.
The departure leaves WHO’s emergency response programs particularly vulnerable, with "readiness functions" in WHO’s Europe office more than 80% dependent on U.S. funding.
Countries including Bangladesh and France have pressed WHO officials on how the agency plans to manage the funding shortfall. Sources quoted in the Associated Press indicate that drastic measures are being considered, including slashing major departmental budgets by up to 50% before year-end.
At a closed-door meeting last Wednesday, WHO finance director George Kyriacou warned that if spending continues at the current rate, the agency could face a "hand-to-mouth situation" by early 2026.
He also revealed that WHO had attempted to claim U.S. funds for previously incurred expenses, but "most of those have not been accepted."
In addition, the U.S. has yet to pay its outstanding 2024 contributions to WHO, pushing the agency further into deficit, according to sources cited by the Associated Press.
U.S. Exist Seen as a Blow to Global Health
Health policy expert Matthew Kavanagh of Georgetown University’s Center for Global Health Policy and Politics argued that the U.S. withdrawal is not just a financial setback but also a risk to American health security.
"Less than 1% of the U.S. health budget goes to WHO, yet in return, the U.S. gains vital intelligence on global disease outbreaks and access to virus samples for vaccine development."
Last week, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was ordered to cease collaboration with WHO immediately. Experts say the sudden cutoff will hinder efforts to investigate and contain outbreaks of Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as emerging global health threats. The decision comes as health authorities worldwide are monitoring bird flu outbreaks among U.S. livestock.
WHO emergencies chief Dr. Michael Ryan acknowledged the severity of the U.S. departure but expressed hope that other member states could help fill the funding gap. "The U.S. is leaving a community of nations," Ryan said. "It’s essentially breaking up with you."
Kavanagh warned that without WHO collaboration, the U.S. will struggle to maintain its current level of access to emerging health threats, leading to "worse health outcomes for Americans."
As WHO deliberates on its future, its leadership remains committed to re-engaging with the U.S.
U.S. Watch Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus's Address
This article was compiled from various sources including:
2025 | WHO | Allocation of flexible funds and proposed key performance indicators for sustainable financing
3 Feb 2025 | Associated Press | WHO chief asks countries to push Washington to reconsider its withdrawal
3 Feb | 2025 | Reuters | WHO proposes budget cut after US exit, defends its work
3 Feb 2025 | VoA | WHO urges US to reconsider withdrawal, warns of budget impact
28 Jan 2025 | Aljazeera | What a US exit from the WHO means for global healthcare
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WHO Urges U.S. to Reconsider Exit
