In a pointed interview, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates accused Elon Musk of “killing the world’s poorest children” through cuts to US development assistance, which he claimed were made out of ignorance. Gates, who is accelerating his philanthropic efforts and plans to close the Gates Foundation in 2045, sharply rebuked Musk’s actions, which have drawn significant attention and backlash.
The controversy began in February, when Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) effectively shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), stating that it was “time for it to die.” USAID, the primary conduit for US foreign aid, has been a critical player in delivering life-saving food, medicine, and disease prevention across the globe. Gates warned that Musk’s cuts had led to food and medicines expiring in warehouses and could trigger the resurgence of deadly diseases like measles, HIV, and polio.
Gates pointed to the cancellation of a vital grant to a hospital in Gaza Province, Mozambique, which had been instrumental in preventing the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. Musk’s mistaken belief that USAID was providing condoms to Hamas in Gaza led to the termination of this support, according to Gates. “I’d love for him to go in and meet the children that have now been infected with HIV because he cut that money,” Gates stated, criticising Musk’s lack of understanding about the essential work of USAID.
In his interview, Gates also outlined his vision for the future, announcing plans to spend over $200bn on global health, development, and education within the next 20 years, with the goal of closing the foundation by 2045. The accelerated spending, Gates explained, would be aimed at achieving lasting solutions to global issues such as polio eradication and HIV cure. Despite his commitment to private philanthropy, Gates warned that such efforts could not replace the critical role of USAID, which had a $44bn budget in 2024.
While Gates remains focused on advancing global health, he criticised Musk’s approach to philanthropy, which Musk had previously dismissed as “bullshit,” preferring commercial solutions to global challenges like climate change through ventures such as Tesla. Their ongoing feud has been marked by Musk’s remarks about philanthropy and his refusal to adhere to the Giving Pledge, a commitment to donate half of his wealth to charity.
The fallout from Musk’s cuts to USAID continues to resonate, with Gates emphasising the profound impact on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations. As the tension between the two billionaires grows, questions surrounding the future of US foreign aid and philanthropy remain unresolved, with Gates challenging Musk’s decisions and urging a more informed, compassionate approach.
