Bill Gates has begun implementing the first major steps toward winding down the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s most influential philanthropic
organisations. Even as the foundation prepares for an eventual closure, it has announced record spending of $9 billion in 2026—its largest annual budget to date—while also planning to reduce staff over the coming years. According to a Fortune report, the foundation is preparing to cut up to 500 jobs by 2030 as part of a broader restructuring. These moves follow Gates’ decision, announced last year, to formally shut down the foundation by 2045, after distributing nearly $200 billion over roughly two decades. The shift comes at a challenging time for global philanthropy, as international aid budgets shrink and pressure mounts on long-standing focus areas such as global health, poverty alleviation, and education in the United States. Workforce cuts and cost controls The foundation’s board has approved a cap on operating expenses, limiting them to $1.25 billion annually—around 14% of the total budget. Without intervention, operating costs were projected to rise to 18% by 2030. To stay within the new limit, the foundation will gradually reduce its workforce from the current 2,375 employees, including by leaving some roles unfilled. CEO Mark Suzman said the reductions would be carried out cautiously. “We will do this thoughtfully, carefully, and systematically,” Suzman said, adding that the 500-job figure represents a maximum target. “I very much hope that we won’t have to do it at that scale.” Record spending amid worsening health indicators Despite the cost controls, the foundation plans to significantly ramp up programme spending. The $9 billion budget for 2026 includes expanded funding for women’s health, vaccines, polio eradication, education, and artificial intelligence tools. Gates recently noted that global health indicators deteriorated last year, with child mortality rising for the first time in over two decades. “The next five years will be difficult as we try to get back on track and scale up new lifesaving tools,” he wrote, while maintaining optimism about long-term progress. Spending will be accelerated across three core priorities:
- Maternal and child health
- Infectious disease prevention
- Poverty reduction
AI investments and regional expansion
Although Gates has frequently warned about the risks posed by artificial intelligence, the foundation continues to invest heavily in its development. It has joined a coalition committing $1 billion toward AI tools for public-sector workers in the United States, with AI remaining one of the fastest-growing programme areas.
The foundation is also expanding its presence in Africa and India, creating a dedicated division focused on the two regions. Work on HIV and tuberculosis will increasingly shift from Seattle to Africa as part of this strategy.
A final push before closure
Despite plans to wind down operations by 2045, Suzman said the foundation still has two decades to operate—and intends to make that period its most impactful yet.
“We are moving into what I believe will be the most consequential phase of the Gates Foundation,” he said.
