They Took It Away, and Now Gates Says Millions Will Pay the Price!

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is issuing a stark warning: if the U.S. doesn’t restore its foreign aid funding, millions of lives could be at stake. The billionaire philanthropist says these cuts not only threaten humanitarian efforts but also risk weakening America’s global influence and economic partnerships.

While Elon Musk’s relentless cost-cutting spree in the government sector is still unfolding, Gates fears the immediate consequences will be devastating. “I’m hopeful that some significant portion of that can be reversed and preserved,” he told PBS in an interview.

Gates, a longtime advocate for global health programs, specifically pointed to the drastic reduction in staffing and funding at USAID, the agency responsible for administering foreign aid. Under Musk’s and President Trump’s directive, USAID has been gutted—thousands of employees have been placed on leave or let go, leaving only about 300 workers to manage critical operations worldwide.

For Gates, this isn’t just a bureaucratic shuffle—it’s life and death. “Elon, of all the elimination he’s done, 99% of it is these employees at the USAID who work overseas in very tough circumstances. They allow the U.S., in addition to our military power, to get out there and help out with famine and HIV medicines,” he said.

One of the most affected programs is PEPFAR—the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Since its inception over two decades ago, it has provided $110 billion in funding, saving more than 26 million lives through HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. “I know a lot of those workers, I know that work,” Gates continued. “A very, very high percentage of it is stuff every taxpayer would be proud of.”

Musk has acknowledged that his reforms at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have not been flawless. He admitted to making mistakes and overreaching in some cuts, but how much will be reinstated remains uncertain.

A notable blunder involved a $50 million aid package for condoms, which was mistakenly blocked. The funds were intended for HIV prevention efforts in Mozambique, not Gaza, as originally assumed. These kinds of errors, Gates warns, could have deadly consequences.

Asked directly how many lives could be at risk if these programs are not restored, Gates was blunt: “It’s definitely in the millions. PEPFAR has kept over 20 million alive with HIV drugs, started by President Bush and continued on a bipartisan basis literally up to the day Elon decided it wasn’t a good organization.”

The White House recently announced a 90-day pause on foreign aid, citing a need to reassess its impact and efficiency. While U.S. foreign aid spending is approximately $40 billion a year, it represents a mere 1.6% of the government’s total expenditures over the past five months—pennies compared to the $2.44 trillion spent since October.

Gates argues that beyond the moral and ethical imperatives, foreign aid brings substantial economic and geopolitical benefits. “If these countries can get out of the poverty trap, then they participate in doing business with the U.S., they have gratitude to the U.S.,” he explained.

Aid also serves as a counterbalance to Chinese influence in developing nations. “There’s a little bit of a ‘do they favor China over us,’ but because of PEPFAR, they’ve been very much positive to the United States,” Gates added.

Neither DOGE nor the White House responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations fear that without immediate action, millions could suffer from hunger, disease, and instability.

For Gates, this is a moment of reckoning. America has long been a leader in humanitarian aid—now, its legacy and moral standing are on the line.