Elon Musk's DOGE cuts to USAID may have caused hundreds of thousands of deaths, experts say

At a glance:

• Public health models project over 780,000 deaths, mostly children, due to USAID cuts under Musk-led DOGE in 2025.
• Musk called USAID a "criminal organization" and celebrated its dismantling during Trump's second term.
• The cuts disrupted malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and Ebola prevention efforts, with long-term consequences in Africa and beyond.

The deadly cost of Musk's efficiency push

In the early months of President Donald Trump's second term, Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) systematically dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), a critical player in global public health. Musk publicly denounced the agency as a "criminal organization" and boasted about "feeding USAID into the wood chipper" during a weekend of budget slashing. This move, framed as cost-cutting, had immediate and devastating consequences. Public health models co-developed by Boston University professor Brooke Nichols estimate that the USAID cuts led to over 780,000 deaths, predominantly among children and infants, from diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. These outcomes were not unforeseen—global researchers had warned that the abrupt termination of life-saving programs would result in catastrophic harm.

The impact extended beyond statistical projections. A whistleblower, Nicholas Enrich, testified that the USAID cuts directly contributed to a surge in HIV transmission rates among newborns, reversing years of progress. Additionally, Musk's televised comments about "accidentally" canceling Ebola prevention efforts in 2025 were never rectified, leaving regions in Africa vulnerable to what could become the worst outbreak in history. The deliberate erosion of these programs reflects a broader pattern of Musk leveraging his influence to undermine institutions he deems inefficient, even at the cost of human lives.

Musk's agenda: racism, misinformation, and unchecked power

Musk's actions have drawn scrutiny not only for their humanitarian toll but also for their alignment with his history of promoting racist rhetoric. He has amplified claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa, shared white supremacist talking points on X, and encouraged anti-immigrant sentiment in the UK. Critics argue that his dismantling of USAID—a program that saved millions of Black lives through immunization and disease prevention—reveals a deeper indifference to marginalized communities. This contradiction underscores a troubling synergy between Musk's personal ideology and his policy decisions, raising questions about the motivations behind his government role.

Even within Trump's administration, Musk's methods were seen as extreme. Susie Wiles, Trump's chief of staff, described him as a "complete solo actor" who likely understood the horror of his actions but proceeded regardless. While DOGE's stated goal was to reduce federal spending, the libertarian Cato Institute found that the initiative saved minimal funds while slashing federal employment by 9 percent. The true cost, however, lies in the irreversible loss of expertise and infrastructure that once safeguarded global health.

Musk's legacy: a world in crisis

As Musk transitions back to focusing on SpaceX and X, the consequences of his DOGE tenure linger. His AI ventures, including projects criticized for spreading misinformation and generating harmful content, raise further alarms about his unchecked influence. The article argues that Musk's accumulation of wealth, media power, and governmental sway represents a unique threat to societal stability. His dismissal of Earth's problems—"There are always problems on Earth"—contrasts sharply with the real-world devastation caused by his policies.

The piece concludes by emphasizing that Musk's actions have crossed a moral threshold, transforming him from a controversial figure into a symbol of unchecked power. As the world grapples with the fallout from his decisions, the question remains whether his influence can be curtailed before further harm occurs.