Charles Esther
Elon Musk challenged Bill Gates’ claims that cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) would result in “millions of deaths.”
Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum on Tuesday, Musk rejected the Microsoft cofounder’s warning and demanded concrete proof to support the statement.
“I’d like him to show us any evidence whatsoever that this is true. It’s false,” Musk said while being interviewed by Bloomberg’s Mishal Husain.
DOGE Slashes USAID Funding by Over 80%
Under Musk’s influence, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has pursued deep cuts in an effort to streamline federal spending.
According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, DOGE has eliminated over 80% of USAID’s programs.
Musk earlier described the agency’s dismantling as “feeding USAID into the wood chipper,” in a February 2 post on X.
He added at the forum that only programs deemed “even slightly useful” were transferred to the State Department.
USAID’s Remaining Humanitarian Programs Receive Waivers
Despite the massive cuts, a limited number of humanitarian efforts have been preserved.
On January 28, Rubio announced that waivers were issued to allow “life-saving humanitarian assistance programs” to continue operations.
Musk defended the move, insisting that the programs USAID once claimed were essential had not provided enough proof of their impact.
“Where are these children they’re supposedly helping?” Musk asked. “If they’re in trouble, we’d like to talk to them and talk to their caregivers.”
Bill Gates Calls Cuts a ‘Mistake’
Bill Gates criticised the budget cuts, calling DOGE’s approach to government spending a “mistake.”
He told CNN that the USAID cuts could cause “millions of deaths.”
Gates, who has committed over $100 billion through his foundation to global health causes, emphasised the importance of USAID’s work in fighting diseases like AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
USAID’s Impact on Global Health
In 2024, USAID distributed nearly $32.5 billion in aid.
More than $2.3 billion of that funding went towards combating AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis worldwide.
The agency also spent around $290 million on vaccine development and immunization efforts.
According to the United Nations, the US provides 70% of the global response to HIV/AIDS, which has saved over 26 million lives since 2003 through programs like PEPFAR.
The Debate Continues
Gates accused Musk of being involved in the deaths of the world’s poorest children due to the cuts.
“He’s the one who cut the USAID budget. He put it in the wood chipper,” Gates told The New York Times Magazine.
Neither Musk nor representatives for Gates have responded further to requests for comment.
