Elon Musk’s USAID Cuts and the Humanitarian Fallout

In early 2025, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ordered the shutdown of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Established in 1961, USAID oversaw roughly $40 billion in assistance to about 130 countries. The decision slashed U.S. humanitarian funding from $14 billion in 2024 to $3.7 billion in 2025—a 58 percent reduction in USAID spending.

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Before the cuts, U.S. foreign aid averaged $35.6-$61.2 billion a year—under 1 percent of the budget. In about 20 low-income countries, USAID supplied over 10 percent of health spending; in Afghanistan it was three times domestic health budgets. A study credited USAID with saving 92 million lives, including 30.4 million children under five. Lancet modeling now projects up to 14 million deaths by 2030, 4.5 million children, and a March 2025 analysis estimates 163 000 additional child deaths annually.

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Rovina Naboi in Kenya reports her daughter Jane died after USAID-funded rations fell to one meal daily. In Nigeria, Yagana Bulama’s twin died weeks after a USAID-financed nutrition program ended. In Sudan, Fatma Swak Fadul lost children Nada and Omer when a soup kitchen ran out of food. Similar deaths occurred in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Zambia following abrupt aid stoppages.

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Elon Musk replied “Exactly.” and later posted, “Deaths in Africa DECREASED after USAID funding was cut, because they’re no longer able to push for violent revolution to install leftist regimes!” Marco Rubio announced the agency’s closure, stating, “Americans should not pay taxes to fund failed governments in far-away lands.” Rep. Ro Khanna said Musk must answer for the “4.5 million children” affected.

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Nicholas Kristof countered Musk’s claim by naming victims like Jane in Kenya and urging Musk to travel to Africa to see the families. Bill Gates accused Musk of “killing the world’s poorest children.” Lancet and Boston University studies link the cuts to rising child mortality, and Refugees International warned the 58 percent aid reduction would cause catastrophic humanitarian effects.

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Musk asserts that child deaths fell after the cuts, while Lancet and Boston University analyses forecast millions of additional deaths. Kristof’s list of named victims challenges Musk’s “no single name” claim. Direct causality between specific deaths and the funding loss remains unproven, leaving the exact mortality impact uncertain.

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• “killing the world’s poorest children” — Bill Gates, statement

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• “talk to these moms and dads, and you’ll see the dying children themselves.” — Nicholas Kristof, NYT column

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• “Jane’s mother said, “After the changes in food rations, I realized my daughter Jane was sick.” — Rovina Naboi, mother

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• “She had high fever and chills.” — Jane’s mother, Kenya

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Rep. Ro Khanna has signaled intent to sue Musk over the alleged deaths, and advocacy groups remain focused on documenting the humanitarian fallout.

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