The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been taken offline following an announcement by US President Donald Trump. Trump had previously criticized the agency, saying it was led by a “bunch of radical crazies.”
In an interview, billionaire Bill Gates expressed his concerns about the future of the agency, stating that budget cuts could lead to “literally millions of deaths.”
The internal crisis in Washington began when high-ranking security officials at USAID attempted to prevent the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from accessing the agency’s systems. According to US media reports, DOGE had audited USAID’s books and found massive waste and misuse of taxpayer funds.
When asked about the situation at the White House, Trump said, “They are led by a bunch of radical crazies and we’re going to get rid of them and then we’ll make a decision about their future.”
Bill Gates explained his views on Elon Musk and the future of USAID in an interview, saying, “Now, Elon, his work in the private sector was very innovative, really fantastic. Many people from the private sector, when they come into government, don’t necessarily take the time to see what the good work is or was, so I’m a little concerned, especially about this USAID thing.”
Gates elaborated on his investments in the cooperative work with USAID, stating, “My foundation works with USAID in the areas of nutrition and vaccines. These incredible people, they’re not worms, they’re actually doing good work. Hopefully, we’ll get something back from this work. If not, it could literally mean millions of deaths.”
The article also mentions the controversy surrounding the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID, including a joint statement from the foundation and USAID in June 2021, announcing a $10 million grant to support financial services over mobile phones in Haiti and to accelerate the provision of cash assistance for earthquake victims in Haiti through humanitarian organizations.
In the German media, a recent article in the Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) featured a review of Bill Gates’ autobiography, praising him as a philanthropist and describing his transformation from a capitalist to a do-gooder. The review, titled “The good Supernerd” concludes that Gates is a good person, unlike some of the other tech billionaires and that his autobiography is a timely reminder of the importance of philanthropy.