Red Cross to cut 2,900 jobs, slash budget as donors reduce support

"A spokesperson said the United States remains the ICRC's largest donor but has reduced its contributions this year, mirroring funding drops from other traditional backers, including the United Kingdom and Germany. The ICRC remains committed to working on the front lines of conflict, where few others can operate, Spoljaric insisted, but warned that the financial reality is forcing us to make difficult decisions to ensure we can continue to deliver critical humanitarian assistance to those who need it most."

"Governments are diverting budgets towards defence and security, leaving humanitarian agencies scrambling to sustain programmes while conflict, displacement and need continue to escalate. The shift comes as Washington overhauls foreign assistance under President Donald Trump, whose America First agenda has reshaped spending priorities. The combined cuts have forced the Geneva-based body to roll out one of its most significant restructurings in decades."

"US funding drops under Trump's America First' agenda, forcing the Red Cross into major global cutbacks. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will impose deep cuts to its operations in 2026, slashing almost one-fifth of its annual budget and shedding 2,900 jobs as global donors retreat from humanitarian financing."

ICRC will impose deep operational cuts in 2026, slashing almost one-fifth of its annual budget and shedding 2,900 jobs. Spending will fall to $2.2bn, prompting one of the organisation's most significant restructurings in decades. Job losses equal roughly 15 percent of the 18,500-strong workforce and include about 200 posts in Geneva. Reduced contributions from major donors, including the United States, United Kingdom and Germany, have driven the funding shortfall. Governments are diverting budgets toward defence and security as conflict, displacement and need escalate. The ICRC will merge departments, streamline management and concentrate on frontline conflict operations to preserve critical humanitarian assistance.

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