Bill Gates reportedly made a quiet visit to the White House on Friday to urge Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reconsider the proposed cuts to foreign aid under the DOGE program.
What Happened: Gates reportedly met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss the proposed $9.5 billion in DOGE budget cuts, including $8.3 billion designated for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These reductions could jeopardize critical programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which plays a major role in lowering mortality rates across Africa, as reported by Tara Palmeri‘s Red Letter.
A State Department spokesperson stated that Rubio's stance on foreign aid cuts remains unchanged in response to an inquiry from the Daily Beast. Although Rubio has assured that the State Department will continue providing lifesaving aid, Democrats have raised doubts about the department's commitment to following through on that promise.
Earlier, Gates had criticized Elon Musk’s push for $2 trillion in U.S. government budget cuts, which focused on dismantling the USAID. Gates warned that such aggressive reductions could lead to millions of deaths worldwide due to the abrupt halt of foreign assistance and health programs.
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