The World Health Organization witnessed a big blow to its budget when the United States announced its intention to withdraw from the institution on the first day the current Trump administration took the helm. The U.S. exit could mean an immediate loss of one-fifth of its budget, jeopardizing crucial health programs.
The U.S. withdrawal significantly hinders WHO's financial stability. In 2022, member states had aimed to increase assessed contributions — the most flexible type of resources for international organizations — from $956.9 million to $2.182 billion by 2028-2029. This goal now appears to be unattainable. The shortfall is unlikely to be offset by other donors, who are facing their own budget constraints and shifting priorities, such as increased defense spending, as seen in the United Kingdom.
Still, despite pessimists predicting a WHO demise due to its current budget crisis, history suggests otherwise. Past funding cuts have not crippled WHO or similar international organizations, demonstrating their strong resilience to external pressures.
About the authors
Bernhard Reinsbergb_reinsberg
Bernhard Reinsberg is a professor of international political economy and development at the University of Glasgow and a research associate in political economy at the Centre for Business Research of the University of Cambridge. His research is on the funding, politics, and effectiveness of international development cooperation.
Francesco GattiFraa_Gatti
Francesco Gatti is a Ph.D. researcher in transnational governance at Scuola Normale Superiore in Italy. His research focuses on international organizations and regime complexity, with a particular emphasis on global trade and health governance.
