Tesla CEO Elon Musk has responded forcefully to recent criticism from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who warned that US foreign aid cuts under Musk’s oversight could endanger the lives of children in some of the world’s poorest regions, Fortune reports.
Gates’s remarks targeted the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a cost-cutting initiative established under President Trump, who appointed Musk to lead the agency following their political alliance ahead of the 2024 election.
DOGE has drawn controversy for sweeping reductions across multiple government agencies, including the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Gates, along with several global health advocates, has voiced concern that the cuts may undermine critical HIV/AIDS services in countries such as Gaza and Mozambique. He accused Musk of failing to recognize the potentially life-threatening consequences of such actions.
“The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” Gates said in an interview with the Financial Times, referencing recent USAID funding cuts that affected health services.
He added that DOGE had canceled payments meant to support HIV/AIDS prevention, potentially disrupting services like testing, treatment delivery, and healthcare staffing.
In a remote appearance at the Qatar Economic Forum, Musk rejected the accusations and questioned the credibility of Gates’s claims.
“Who does Bill Gates think he is?” Musk asked.
He denied that DOGE’s actions have led to harm and challenged critics to provide concrete evidence.
“I’d like him to show us any evidence whatsoever that that is true,” he said. “It’s false.”
Musk further clarified that not all USAID programs had been cut; instead, those deemed beneficial were reassigned to the State Department.
“They’ve not been deleted,” he said. “They’ve simply been transferred.”
Responding to Gates’s specific reference to funding for HIV/AIDS prevention in Gaza, Mozambique, Musk argued that his team had sought direct evidence of harm but had received none. He also expressed skepticism toward some philanthropic organizations, claiming they failed to provide real-world examples or connect DOGE with affected individuals.
“We asked for any evidence whatsoever… connect us with this group of children so we can talk to them… we get nothing,” Musk said. He alleged that some aid programs suffer from inefficiencies and misuse of funds. “What we find is an enormous amount of fraud and graft.”
Still, Musk left the door open for further review.
“If in fact this is true, which I doubt it is, then we’ll fix it,” he stated.
One organization affected by the funding changes, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, confirmed to Fortune that $33 million in contracts had been canceled. The group highlighted that the funds were intended to support healthcare staffing, counseling, HIV testing, and logistical infrastructure for treatment distribution.
