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PATH’s headquarters in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. (PATH Photo)
Seattle-based global health nonprofit PATH announced this week that it is reducing its workforce in response to Trump administration efforts to slash federal funding to research institutions.
The number of employees affected and how many are in Seattle was not shared by PATH. The organization employs more than 200 people in the Seattle area and more than 3,000 globally. GeekWire reached out to PATH for more details and will update this story when we hear back.
PATH said that U.S. government funding accounts for just over 30% of its annual budget.
“This was not a choice made lightly,” the nonprofit said. “PATH’s people are our greatest asset. Our global team includes immensely dedicated and talented scientists, public health experts, engineers, advocates, and more — all working together to improve health and well-being for the people who need it most.”
PATH is among a number of top research institutions in Washington state facing the potential impact of President Trump’s limit on National Institutes of Health grant funding. Organizations in the Seattle area alone received $1.13 billion in NIH funding during the fiscal year ending in the third quarter of 2024, according to CBRE Research.
PATH also partners with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to promote and improve health in developing countries. USAID funding was also frozen by the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, although a federal judge order a temporary lift on Thursday.
PATH announced plans a year ago to move to a new headquarters space in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood after 15 years in South Lake Union. With plans to occupy the new location in 2025, PATH said the former Tableau space will house the organization’s laboratory and product engineering lab, in addition to open-concept collaboration spaces for meetings and events.
PATH has more than 47 offices across 24 countries.
Read the full release from PATH on workforce reductions:
Last week, PATH leadership made the difficult decision to reduce our workforce. This decision comes in response to the unexpected pause in US government funding, which accounts for just over 30 percent of PATH’s annual budget.
This was not a choice made lightly. PATH’s people are our greatest asset. Our global team includes immensely dedicated and talented scientists, public health experts, engineers, advocates, and more—all working together to improve health and well-being for the people who need it most.
Though heartbreaking, these workforce reductions safeguard our ability to continue other critical health projects and ensure PATH can continue to support communities at the heart of our work.
The pause in US funding is a significant obstacle in global efforts to advance human health, but our commitment to the communities we serve remains steadfast. And our work continues—strong, focused, and driven by the urgency of the challenges ahead. Now, more than ever, we stand firm in our mission to transform global health and save lives.
