SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has defended the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) sweeping cuts to USAID, insisting they caused “zero” deaths in Africa. He also dismissed claims that the aid reductions triggered widespread suffering, arguing that private philanthropists could have stepped in to fill any funding gaps.
Musk rejects criticism over aid cuts
Speaking to The Economist, Musk described USAID as “a fraud” and rejected accusations that the Trump administration’s aid cuts cost lives across Africa.
Musk said no one died because of the funding cuts implemented through DOGE. Instead, he argued that wealthy philanthropists such as Bill Gates and MacKenzie Scott had the resources to replace the withdrawn US funding if they believed lives were at risk.
.@elonmusk says zero people died from DOGE cuts to USAID. The billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, in his own words, helped feed the policy to the woodchipper last year, when he was the head of America’s Department of Government Efficiency. In an exclusive interview, @zannymb,… pic.twitter.com/BilkbWrJHF
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 23, 2026
“Zero died because of DOGE,” said Musk. “Zero point zero.”
Between 2021 and 2024, USAID provided $131 billion in aid to African countries. A lion’s share of the agency’s budget went to crisis relief while a chunk was provided for HIV/AIDS programs and malaria eradication.
In mid-2025, the Trump administration slashed USAID operations after establishing DOGE to shrink the federal government and eliminate programmes officials considered wasteful. Consequently, Washington cancelled thousands of aid contracts and shifted much of its remaining humanitarian assistance to the State Department under a new funding model.
Elon Musk led DOGE for six months before stepping down from his role over budget disagreements.
In his six months as head of the outfit, over 260,000 federal employees lost their jobs. In late 2025, the DOGE office was shut down, with operations ending months ahead of its original schedule amid heightened public protests and legal pushback.
Aid organizations decry effects of USAID cuts in Africa
Musk’s remarks come after months of criticism from humanitarian organizations and former USAID officials, who have warned that funding cuts disrupted health services and emergency relief programmes across several African countries. Additionally, aid agencies have linked the loss of US funding to reduced capacity for responding to disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and displacement crises.
Musk continues to peddle the lie that no one has died from USAID’s cuts. His latest excuse? Private donors and NGOs could’ve filled the gap. But DOGE abruptly terminated 83% of USAID programs, leaving no time for a responsible handover. They didn’t care. https://t.co/FqlJjVB5op
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) July 25, 2026
Doctors Without Borders cut a significant portion of its program in Africa, opting to focus on paediatric and maternal care to cope with the USAID cuts. Across the continent, hundreds of NGOs have shut down their operation as the USAID cuts crosses its one-year mark.
Meanwhile, the US is funding Ebola response in Africa through the State Department. The US Ebola response topped $162 million to dwarf the figures donated by the European Union (EU), China, and France.