USAID cuts can't win philanthropy debate

MICROSOFT FOUNDER BILL Gates recently accused Tesla's "technoking" (as stated on its website) Elon Musk of "killing the world's poorest children" as the latter shuttered the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in February.

- ANVITII RAI

MICROSOFT FOUNDER BILL Gates recently accused Tesla's "technoking" (as stated on its website) Elon Musk of "killing the world's poorest children" as the latter shuttered the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in February. Gates' comments are put into perspective when USAID's contributions are taken into account — in 2023, it amounted to $60 billion.

One can argue that the steep figure owes to the US' continuous support to war-torn Ukraine and warmongering Israel. But even without the war machinery, the US has been supporting many initiatives — started by Presidents over the years and ranging from AIDS prevention to eradicating malnutrition in children — via USAID since its inception in 1961.

Stop-work orders were issued in February by the Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (or DOGE), which was formed to cut wasteful spending. However, while the US remains the largest contributor of foreign aid, that amount is a mere 1% of the federal budget and does not do much to help the "ailing" US administration.