Gates Sounds Alarm: Sharp Aid Cuts May Cause Millions of Child Deaths, Calls DOGE ‘Responsible for Many’

Bill Gates Warns Aid Cuts Could Cause Millions of Child Deaths, Criticizes Musk’s DOGE.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has warned that global child deaths are set to rise for the first time this century due to sharp cuts in international aid. Speaking to AFP, Gates called the reversal “tragic,” saying decades of progress since the early 2000s are now at risk.

Gates singled out the United States, blaming Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for halting USAID grants, a move he said was “responsible for a lot of deaths.” Other major donors, including Britain, France, and Germany, have also cut aid disproportionately.

The Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers report projects under-five deaths to reach 4.8 million in 2025, up 200,000 from last year. Global aid to developing nations has dropped 27 percent, threatening efforts against HIV, malaria, polio, and other preventable diseases. Gates warned that if current cuts continue, up to 16 million additional child deaths could occur by 2045.

Gates criticized the dismantling of USAID under the Trump administration and expressed disappointment over the US not renewing its funding for the Gavi vaccine alliance, citing misinformation from US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Despite the grim outlook, Gates highlighted hope in new medical interventions, including RSV and pneumonia vaccines and the HIV-prevention injection lenacapavir, which could help reduce child mortality within five years.

Gates, who plans to give away his entire fortune by 2045, remains a key influencer in global health. Analysts note that as government aid declines, his role in funding and shaping health initiatives will become even more significant, though private philanthropy alone cannot fully fill the gap.