The Waste Musk Created : Nicholas Kristof / NY Times

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Summary
Nicholas Kristof reports from Sierra Leone and Liberia on the catastrophic human cost of the abrupt shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. by the Trump administration.

The administration’s stated rationale — eliminating “waste” — has, ironically, created immense waste and suffering, including donated medicines left to expire in warehouses, health systems collapsing, and children dying of treatable diseases.

Kristof refutes claims by Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that no one has died from the aid cuts, providing powerful, on-the-ground evidence of mothers bleeding to death without fuel for ambulances, children dying of malaria due to drug shortages, and HIV patients cut off from antiretrovirals. Programs to prevent blindness, treat parasitic infections, and reduce maternal mortality have been halted or gutted. He concludes that these cuts are not just reckless, but cruel — undermining both U.S. moral leadership and national security.

Quotes
“These boxes of drugs could change millions of lives. Instead, they’re stuck in this warehouse.”
“We tell them we can’t distribute them.” — Tamba Koroma, warehouse watchman

“It is a lie that no one has died. And maybe I will die because of medical decisions in Washington.” — Jonathan Gassama, HIV patient in Sierra Leone

“We are in touch with China… but until now we have depended mostly on the U.S. for health.” — Dabah Varpilah, Chair of the Health Committee, Liberian Senate

“I will continue to save my people.” — John Flomo, unpaid Liberian health worker formerly supported by U.S.A.I.D.