In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Bill Gates expressed support for the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), calling the initiative a potentially “valuable” effort to reduce the U.S. federal budget deficit. Gates, a long-time advocate for fiscal responsibility, emphasized the importance of addressing government spending to prevent future financial challenges.
“I think the idea that looking at government expenditures with a zero-based budgeting approach could be valuable,” Gates explained. “I’m amongst the people who think the deficit needs to be brought down because otherwise, it will create a financial problem for us. That effort could come up with some good things.”
DOGE, which has recently seen the departure of businessman Vivek Ramaswamy as co-lead, was created to address inefficiencies in government spending and work toward deficit reduction. Initially, Musk set an ambitious goal of cutting $2 trillion from the federal budget. However, during a discussion with political strategist Mark Penn in early January, Musk revised the estimate, acknowledging that a “best-case outcome” would be saving $1 trillion.
On Friday, DOGE announced the cancellation of approximately $420 million in existing and upcoming contracts, as well as two leases. However, Business Insider’s analysis suggests the commission will need to pursue deeper cuts to meet its targets.
When asked by The Wall Street Journal’s Emma Tucker where he would look for savings if he were leading DOGE, Gates noted that everything would need to be on the table, including defense, pensions, and healthcare. He acknowledged that balancing the budget was crucial but raised concerns about the potential consequences of reducing funding for vital public health programs.
“I believe in HIV medicines, where the U.S. is keeping tens of millions of people alive,” Gates said. “If you cut those off, not only would they die when we have a cure on its way, but the negative feelings you’d have, say in Africa, would be worse than never having done the thing at all.”
Gates has been a key figure in global health advocacy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he co-founded in 2000. He has used his platform to champion global health issues and combat poverty, particularly in developing nations.
While Gates did not publicly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential race, reports from The New York Times revealed that he privately donated $50 million to a pro-Harris super PAC in October. Following the disclosure, Gates issued a statement emphasizing his bipartisan stance, noting that this election cycle is “different.”
In December, Gates also visited Mar-a-Lago to meet with then-President-elect Donald Trump. Gates later expressed admiration for Trump’s focus on global health, suggesting that discussions on the matter left a positive impression on him.
Gates’ continued involvement in both the tech and philanthropic sectors highlights his evolving role in shaping public discourse on global health, fiscal policy, and governmental efficiency.
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