Bill Gates starts wind-down of Gates Foundation, plans job cuts and approves $9 billion budget for 2026

Bill Gates

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation begins formal wind-down, set to close by 2045
• $9 billion budget approved for 2026, highest annual spending to date
• Up to 500 jobs to be cut over five years to cap operating costs at $1.25 billion

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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has begun the formal process of winding down the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, setting the stage for an eventual closure by 2045. The transition plan combines higher programme spending with stricter controls on staffing and operating costs as the organisation enters its final phase.

$9 billion budget for 2026

The foundation has approved a $9 billion budget for 2026, its highest annual spending to date. This increased allocation reflects an effort to address growing pressures in areas such as global health, poverty reduction, and education, particularly at a time when international aid budgets are under strain in several countries.

Over its remaining lifespan, the foundation is expected to spend close to $200 billion before formally shutting down. Leadership has stated that the next few years will focus on maximising impact while preparing the organisation for a structured and orderly closure.

Job cuts and operating cost limits

Alongside higher programme spending, the foundation has outlined plans to reduce its workforce by up to 500 positions over the next five years. The reductions will be gradual and are partly aimed at keeping operating costs within a fixed cap of $1.25 billion annually, or roughly 14 percent of the total budget.

Currently employing more than 2,300 people, the foundation plans to meet the target through a combination of attrition and selective role reductions rather than immediate layoffs. Management has indicated that staffing levels and costs will be reviewed on a yearly basis during the transition period.

Focus areas during the transition

Despite the planned closure, the Gates Foundation will continue to fund key initiatives. These include maternal and child health, vaccine development, infectious disease prevention, and education programmes. Additional funding is also being directed toward the use of artificial intelligence tools in public-sector and health-related projects.

The organisation is expanding its operational focus in regions such as Africa and India, with more programme leadership and implementation shifting closer to areas most affected by diseases like HIV and tuberculosis.

Long-term outlook

Foundation leaders have stressed that the organisation still has nearly two decades to operate and intends to deliver its most substantial outcomes during this period. The wind-down strategy reflects a balance between accelerated spending now and a clearly defined end date in 2045.