Bill Gates: Musk wouldn’t be telling USAID workers to stay home if he knew what it does

Billionaire Bill Gates said in an interview early Tuesday that Elon Musk “wouldn’t be telling” employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) not to come to work if he “really knew” what it does.

“I give billions of dollars to the same thing that USAID does. I go out in the field and study these things. I hire scientists,” Gates said on NBC’s “Today” show.

“And so, you know, I think if he really knew the work there, he wouldn’t be telling 10,000 people not to come and do that work,” he added.

Gates lauded USAID, which has administered billions of dollars of humanitarian and development assistance around the world, as critical in funding global health and nutrition efforts. Despite Musk’s threats to fold the agency into the State Department through a Department of Government Efficiency overhaul, the Microsoft founder said he remains “hopeful” regarding USAID’s future.

“You know, I think all Americans can agree that keeping people alive, you know, for very little money, you know, we should be proud of that,” Gates said. 

“It started back with President Bush. There is some disruption going on now, and I want to, you know, engage positively to get things back on track.”

USAID employees told The Hill they are “terrified” of changes to the agency and are awaiting clear communication from the Trump administration.  An email reviewed by The Hill said USAID’s headquarters at the Ronald Reagan building would be closed Monday and instructed employees to work remotely.