The World Health Organization (WHO) is grappling with a major financial and operational challenge following the United States’ decision to withdraw as its largest donor.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Friday that the agency is reviewing its priorities and implementing austerity measures to navigate the financial strain.
In a letter sent to staff on Thursday, Tedros outlined immediate steps to mitigate the impact of the U.S. decision.
These include freezing recruitment except for critical roles, significantly reducing travel expenses, and moving all meetings to a virtual format unless exceptions are granted. Technical support missions will also be scaled back to only the most essential.
“This announcement has made our financial situation more acute, and we know it has created significant concern and uncertainty for the WHO workforce,” Tedros wrote. The agency is now reassessing its activities to adapt to a reduced budget.
The United States, historically the WHO’s largest financial contributor, accounted for 16.3% of the agency’s $7.89 billion budget in the 2022–2023 cycle.
However, President Donald Trump has criticized the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the organization of bias toward China and signing an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the agency.
Trump also highlighted what he described as disproportionate financial contributions, claiming that the U.S. pays far more than other nations, including China. According to the executive order, China’s annual membership fees for 2024 and 2025 are $88 million, compared to the $130 million owed by the U.S. for the same period.
WHO officials have expressed serious concerns about the potential consequences of the U.S. withdrawal. Spokesman Christian Lindmeier warned that the decision could harm global health efforts more than the WHO itself.
“The WHO provides critical information to the U.S. and other member states on outbreaks and emerging health threats,” Lindmeier said, pointing to the organization’s role in detecting and assessing threats in real-time.
He cited the recent bird flu (H5N1) outbreak in the U.S., which has already claimed one life, as an example of how the WHO’s health intelligence system benefits member states.
The withdrawal also raises concerns about data sharing, with Lindmeier emphasizing the importance of the WHO’s constant communication with member states. “If that went silent from the U.S. side, that would be an issue,” he noted.
Despite the challenges, Tedros remains hopeful that future U.S. leadership will reconsider the decision. “We are open to dialogue on preserving the relationship,” he said, signaling the WHO’s willingness to work toward a resolution.
Under U.S. Congress guidelines, the withdrawal process requires a one-year notice and the payment of all outstanding dues. As of now, the U.S. owes $130 million in membership fees for both 2024 and 2025.