Bill Gates calls on Congress to ‘show its values’ on foreign aid, or this year will see children’s deaths go up instead of down

Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates speaks during a dinner at the State Dining Room of the White House on September 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump (L) hosted tech and business leaders for dinner after they joined the first lady Melania Trump’s (2nd L) meeting of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education Task Force at the White House this afternoon. (Credit: Alex Wong—Getty Images)

• Bill Gates is urging Congress to renew America’s commitment to foreign aid, warning that funding cuts risk reversing decades of progress in global health. The Microsoft cofounder noted U.S. spending has halved childhood deaths worldwide over the past 25 years, and pledged nearly all his wealth to the Gates Foundation to continue that mission. While DOGE-led cuts have been controversial, Gates remains optimistic that even modest U.S. contributions can save millions more lives.

Bill Gates is calling on Washington, D.C., to examine its moral compass on foreign aid, and renew its spending pledges to poorer nations.