Elon Musk’s Dismantling of USAID Draws Sharp Humanitarian Criticism

In the week surrounding his 55th birthday, Elon Musk oversaw the near-total shutdown of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through his self-styled Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Critics say the abrupt move has left lifesaving programs in many developing nations in disarray, with emergency food assistance dwindling and cases of malaria and HIV/AIDS rising sharply.

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A 2025 study cited by Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) links the cuts to an estimated 4.5 million children facing a “death sentence” worldwide. The analysis, described as the first comprehensive assessment of U.S. foreign aid’s impact, connects the loss of USAID funding to worsening health outcomes in countries such as Liberia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Sierra Leone. Journalists have reported that the collapse of USAID’s health-care support networks has contributed to higher mortality among children and pregnant women in these regions.

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Musk responded on Twitter, challenging critics to name a single individual who died as a direct result of the cuts, and asserted that no such evidence exists. Pulitzer-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof countered by listing specific victims—including a 23-year-old woman who died in childbirth, a one-year-old who succumbed to malaria in Liberia, and an eight-year-old South Sudanese girl, Achol Deng, who lost access to HIV/AIDS medication after the funding was withdrawn. Kristof invited Musk to join him on a reporting trip to witness the impact firsthand.

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• “I said the cuts DOGE made to USAID are potentially a death sentence for an estimated 4.5 million children around the world,” — Ro Khanna

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• “I challenge Musk: Come with me on a reporting trip, and we’ll talk to these moms and dads, and you’ll see the dying children themselves,” — Nicholas Kristof

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