- The foundations do not replace the funding of the governmentSome philanthropists argue. Bill Gates would have warned the Trump administration that the Gates Foundation will not be able to fill the gaps left by the dissolution of the American agency for international development, which distributed $ 43.8 billion in aid during the year 2023.
Bill Gates would have warned President Donald Trump’s administration that his philanthropic efforts do not replace the US government funding for global health care efforts.
The co -founder of Microsoft who has become a Millionaire Philanthrope asks the Trump administration to continue to finance global health programs Reuters reportedciting two anonymous sources. He met the legislators and the National Security Council about his concerns.
The Trump administration has indeed dissolved the American agency for international development, the body responsible for mass campaigns in public health matters, including the achievement of mass measles vaccination efforts. Last month, administration dissolved 90% Agency’s foreign assistance contracts and put most of its workers on leave, pulling 1,600 others. USAID distributed $ 43.8 billion in aid During fiscal 2023, according to Pew Research.
“President Trump will support policies [sic] Who strengthen our public health, write programs that do not align with the agenda that the American people gave them a mandate in November to implement and maintain the programs that first put America, “said the assistant press secretary of the White House, Anna Kelly Fortune in a declaration.
Public health experts fear that the rejection of the USAID of the White House could have Devastating global consequencesas an increase in global cases and deaths of malaria and the spread of HIV and tuberculosis (TB).
“Without immediate action, the hard -won progress in the fight against tuberculosis is in danger,” said Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of the World WHO program on TB and pulmonary health, said in a press release Earlier this month.
The Gates Foundation, founded by Bill Gates and the ex-wife Melinda French Gates in 2000, has a Budget of almost $ 9 billion Since 2025 and has financed vaccine tests against malaria and vaccination efforts of the childhood of the Gavi Alliance.
The Foundation did not respond to Fortunerequest for comments, but says Reuters In a statement, “Bill was recently at Washington DC to meet decision -makers to discuss the vital impact of American international aid and the need for a strategic plan to protect the most vulnerable in the world while protecting American health and security.”
The foundations refuse to intervene
Trump’s mission to curb global foreign aid would increase pressure on private organizations to take over, which philanthropic groups do not seem to want to do. Doors Met Trump At the White House in early February, calling for the administration to continue to finance USAID. The Gates Foundation clearly indicated that no private philanthropic effort could replace foreign aid funded by the government.
“There is no basis – or group of foundations – which can provide funding, the ability of the workforce, expertise or leadership that the United States has historically provided to fight and control fatal diseases and tackle hunger and poverty worldwide”, Rob Nabors, Director of Gates of Gates America, Rob Nabors, Gates Foundation, Spoke of the media Earlier this month.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation, one of the richest charities in the world, has also far removed additional funding with foreign aid and will continue to focus on the fight against non -transmitted diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
“Of course, more people contact us … We do not intend to return, to fill the gaps,” said Flemming Konradsen, the scientific director of world health of the Novo Nordisk Foundation in February in February interview with Reuters.
These foundations turn away from the role of government in World Aid on Health Care because they are not designed to do so, according to Jesse LECY, an associate professor of science of data and non -profit studies on Arizona State University.
“The capital necessary to maintain an initiative eclipses the capital levels necessary for pilot programs which can establish the effectiveness of new approaches,” he said Fortune in an email. “The scale of viable solutions requires partnerships.”
Philanthropic efforts are more effective when investing in early research or more risky, but cheaper pilot initiatives. Then, non -profit organizations can build and support successful long -term projects, argued LECY. The scaling of non -profit projects is something much more expensive than what the foundations have resources.
“What people contemplate themselves on the foundations is that they are the venture capital branch of philanthropy, not the long-term capital that supports programming,” he said.
This story was initially presented on Fortune.com
