The World Health Organization (WHO) is cutting nearly half of its top leadership team due to a significant funding shortfall caused by the United States halting financial contributions.
In an internal email, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced that the executive management team at its Geneva headquarters will shrink from 11 members to six starting June 16.
Among those departing are two key figures from the global COVID-19 response—Mike Ryan, the long-serving emergencies director, and Bruce Aylward, who led efforts for universal health coverage. Tedros noted Ryan had planned to leave years ago but stayed on during the pandemic at his request.
British researcher Jeremy Farrar will move into a new role overseeing health promotion and disease prevention. His current role as chief scientist will be passed on to French physician Sylvie Briand.
The leadership shake-up follows the WHO’s warning last month that it must slash jobs and scale back operations after the US, previously its largest donor, failed to pay its 2024 dues and is expected to continue withholding funds in 2025.
The US had contributed $1.3 billion for WHO’s 2022–2023 budget, mostly via voluntary project-based donations. WHO now faces a projected budget gap of up to $650 million for 2026–2027.
The looming budget crisis will be a central topic at the WHO’s upcoming annual assembly.
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