WHO proposes budget cut after US exit, defends its work

By Jennifer Rigby

LONDON - World Health Organization member states will discuss cutting part of its budget by $400 million in light of President Trump's move to withdraw the United States, its biggest government funder, from the agency, a document released on Monday showed.

Opening the agency's annual executive board meeting, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also defended the agency's work and recent reforms and reiterated a call for the US to reconsider its exit and enter into dialogue with the WHO about further change.

"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," he said.

The budget cut will be discussed at the February 3-11 Geneva meeting, during which member state representatives will discuss the agency's funding and work for the 2026-2027 period.

The executive board proposes cutting the base programmes section of the budget from a proposed $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion, according to a document released on Monday. That is part of the wider $7.5 billion budget for 2026-2027 that was originally proposed, including money for polio eradication and tackling emergencies.

"With the departure of the biggest financial contributor, the budget could not be 'business as usual,'" the document reads. The US is the WHO's biggest government donor, contributing around 18% of its overall funding. The WHO has already separately taken some cost-cutting steps after the US move.

However, some board representatives also wanted to send a message that the WHO would preserve its strategic direction despite the challenges, the document adds.

The $4.9 billion is roughly the same as the base programme budget for the previous period, 2024-2025.

Trump moved to exit the WHO on his first day in office two weeks ago. The process will take one year under US law.

- REUTERS