The World’s Health is only as strong as the organizations that protect it. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a global health agency responsible for coordinating international health efforts and responding to public health crises. After the Inaguration of President Donald J. Trump in January of 2025, he signed Executive Order 14155, signaling his administrations intent to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization and to directely pause future funding. President Trump justified the decision by claiming WHO had failed to reform and had “mishandled” the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the U.S. directed the freezing of all future funding and support to the organization and began recalling its personnel from WHO offices.
According to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA), the President’s ability to unilaterally withdraw or suspend funding that the U.S. Congress has already allocated is restricted. Nevertheless, as the biggest financial backer of WHO, this decision to withdraw funds is deeply damaging to the organization and its global operations. For the budgeted year of 2026-2027, the WHO’s program budget was approved at $4.2 billion, a 22% reduction from the projected budget of $5.3 billion needed to fulfill its core mission, and a 14% decrease from the 2024-2025 base budget.
To adjust to these financial constraints, WHO has announced significant organizational restructuring. This includes plans to reduce its senior leadership team from 12 to 7 members, excluding the Director-General, and to reduce departments from 76 to 34. Additionally, the expected 25% deficit in salary funding will likely force WHO to reduce its staff numbers.
This loss of personnel directly threatens the global health system. It could result in slower response times to disease outbreaks, reduced health program implementation, and an overall weaker support for national and international healthcare systems. On April 10, 2025, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that “the results show severe disruptions to health services in almost three-quarters of countries, and closures of health facilities in one quarter of countries”. Additionally, he further reported “job losses for health and care workers, and disruptions to information systems, and the supply of medicines and health products.”
The budget cuts for WHO have already started to impact countries and outbreaks internationally. Angola has been facing a severe cholera outbreak. As of May 18, 2025, there have been over 20,000 cases and 620 reported deaths. WHO’s ability to respond with large-scare vaccination and medical aid is now strained, especially as access to safe water and sanitation remains inadequate. Dr. Tedros expresses that a major goal of WHO’s response in Angola is simply “to bring the death rate down”, highlighting how limited the organization’s capacity has become in light of recent financial limitations.
In Haiti, violence and instability have forced more than 50% of health facilities in Port-au-Prince to close. Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais, one of the country’s largest public hospitals, was shut down in April of 2025. The reduced presence of WHO weakened logistical support and has left vulnerable populations without reliable access to care.
IMAGE CREDIT: United Nations Foundation
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