Atul Gawande
@agawande.bsky.social
Surgeon, Writer ("Being Mortal," "Checklist Manifesto"), and formerly led Global Health @USAID.
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
November 6, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I helped make a film, out this week, called “Rovina’s Choice,” about the deaths this man without conscience or accountability has caused — already 600,000, ⅔ of them children.
But now the gains are being reversed. In Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, our team visited Clinic 7, where the sickest children come. After US aid ended, food supply fell to 40% of minimum needs, 2/3 of health workers were laid off, & sever malnutrition surged. 4/
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
November 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM
But now the gains are being reversed. In Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, our team visited Clinic 7, where the sickest children come. After US aid ended, food supply fell to 40% of minimum needs, 2/3 of health workers were laid off, & sever malnutrition surged. 4/
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
My companion piece explains the film’s context: USAID’s dismantling is estimated to have already killed 600,000 people, ⅔ of them children. Officials simply deny any harm, while halting data monitoring and firing inspectors general who’d have documented it. 2/
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
November 6, 2025 at 12:41 PM
My companion piece explains the film’s context: USAID’s dismantling is estimated to have already killed 600,000 people, ⅔ of them children. Officials simply deny any harm, while halting data monitoring and firing inspectors general who’d have documented it. 2/
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...
#freedc I returned from the wedding of our daughter to find the city where I have lived for the last 3 years in the midst of a military takeover.
The military policing Americans.
This is happening. It is a danger for everyone in our country. Now is the moment to turn out in protest.
The military policing Americans.
This is happening. It is a danger for everyone in our country. Now is the moment to turn out in protest.
August 11, 2025 at 7:18 PM
#freedc I returned from the wedding of our daughter to find the city where I have lived for the last 3 years in the midst of a military takeover.
The military policing Americans.
This is happening. It is a danger for everyone in our country. Now is the moment to turn out in protest.
The military policing Americans.
This is happening. It is a danger for everyone in our country. Now is the moment to turn out in protest.
Obama: “Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy. Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world.”
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Obama: “Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it’s a tragedy. Because it’s some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world.”
Bush, Obama, and Bono thanked USAID staff & criticized dismantling USAID.
Bush: “Is it in our interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your hard work, and God bless you.” www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Bush: “Is it in our interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your hard work, and God bless you.” www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Bush, Obama, and Bono thanked USAID staff & criticized dismantling USAID.
Bush: “Is it in our interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your hard work, and God bless you.” www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Bush: “Is it in our interest that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is. On behalf of a grateful nation, thank you for your hard work, and God bless you.” www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Higher USAID support was associated with a 15% reduction in overall mortality and 32% reduction in child mortality.
This was the effect of not just its health work but also its development support for economies, people, and institutions that transitioned numerous countries off of aid.
This was the effect of not just its health work but also its development support for economies, people, and institutions that transitioned numerous countries off of aid.
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Higher USAID support was associated with a 15% reduction in overall mortality and 32% reduction in child mortality.
This was the effect of not just its health work but also its development support for economies, people, and institutions that transitioned numerous countries off of aid.
This was the effect of not just its health work but also its development support for economies, people, and institutions that transitioned numerous countries off of aid.
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Some basic facts RFK Jr continues to ignore.
Global health advances have reduced child deaths 75% over the last 50 years.
40% of those gains were from vaccination. And 60% of those gains were from the measles vaccine alone. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Global health advances have reduced child deaths 75% over the last 50 years.
40% of those gains were from vaccination. And 60% of those gains were from the measles vaccine alone. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
June 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Some basic facts RFK Jr continues to ignore.
Global health advances have reduced child deaths 75% over the last 50 years.
40% of those gains were from vaccination. And 60% of those gains were from the measles vaccine alone. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Global health advances have reduced child deaths 75% over the last 50 years.
40% of those gains were from vaccination. And 60% of those gains were from the measles vaccine alone. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
However, advocates, protests, and calls into Senate offices are mounting pressure against the rescission bill, as well as against the cuts to Medicaid and other lifesaving health programs on the chopping block. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
June 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
However, advocates, protests, and calls into Senate offices are mounting pressure against the rescission bill, as well as against the cuts to Medicaid and other lifesaving health programs on the chopping block. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Lenacapavir’s is a big barrier. But PEPFAR and the Global Fund already have agreements for low prices for poor countries in line with existing PrEP (daily pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine) costs. And 6 generic manufacturers have licensing. www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/2024...
June 19, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Lenacapavir’s is a big barrier. But PEPFAR and the Global Fund already have agreements for low prices for poor countries in line with existing PrEP (daily pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine) costs. And 6 generic manufacturers have licensing. www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/2024...
Meanwhile, China has been aggressively increasing investments in research and science. “Five years ago, China overtook the U.S. in its share of the top 1 percent of cited papers. China also leads the world in patents and will soon be outspending the U.S. on research.” thehill.com/opinion/tech...
April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Meanwhile, China has been aggressively increasing investments in research and science. “Five years ago, China overtook the U.S. in its share of the top 1 percent of cited papers. China also leads the world in patents and will soon be outspending the U.S. on research.” thehill.com/opinion/tech...
For the sake of political control, the Administration is jeopardizing a health and science enterprise that added decades to US life expectancy and made America the world leader in technology and innovation.
April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
For the sake of political control, the Administration is jeopardizing a health and science enterprise that added decades to US life expectancy and made America the world leader in technology and innovation.
A leaked draft of the 2026 HHS budget proposes further 40% cuts at NIH and CDC. Universities nationwide are now reducing or rescinding graduate-student admissions. It’s suddenly a terrible time for a young person to dream of making scientific discoveries. wapo.st/4jFU9vZ
April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
A leaked draft of the 2026 HHS budget proposes further 40% cuts at NIH and CDC. Universities nationwide are now reducing or rescinding graduate-student admissions. It’s suddenly a terrible time for a young person to dream of making scientific discoveries. wapo.st/4jFU9vZ
NIH halted issuing new grants & terminated large swaths of existing ones, including research on improving vaccination rates and reducing HIV in at-risk groups. Layoffs also decimated CDC and NIH HIV leadership, abandoning the US effort to end HIV by 2030. hivhep.org/press-releas...
April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
NIH halted issuing new grants & terminated large swaths of existing ones, including research on improving vaccination rates and reducing HIV in at-risk groups. Layoffs also decimated CDC and NIH HIV leadership, abandoning the US effort to end HIV by 2030. hivhep.org/press-releas...
These attacks are part of a broader assault on America’s health-and-science infrastructure. >90% of the $9B in federal dollars for Harvard that Trump has threatened supports life sciences – including heart disease research that saved my son’s life and guides his future care.
April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
These attacks are part of a broader assault on America’s health-and-science infrastructure. >90% of the $9B in federal dollars for Harvard that Trump has threatened supports life sciences – including heart disease research that saved my son’s life and guides his future care.
Thousands of fired USAID employees were given 15 minutes today to clear out their personal belongings from headquarters.
February 28, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Thousands of fired USAID employees were given 15 minutes today to clear out their personal belongings from headquarters.
8) Despite denials, virtually NO lifesaving health and humanitarian assistance has flowed because DOGE shut down USAID’s payment system. Payments for past work in Dec and Jan were even cut off. Result: 50,000+ US workers laid off. www.usaidstopwork.com
February 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
8) Despite denials, virtually NO lifesaving health and humanitarian assistance has flowed because DOGE shut down USAID’s payment system. Payments for past work in Dec and Jan were even cut off. Result: 50,000+ US workers laid off. www.usaidstopwork.com
Rubio claims that @USAID lifesaving assistance for health and humanitarian needs will continue. But his team just communicated that the entire agency will be imminently reduced from 14,000 to 294 people. Just 12 in Africa.
February 6, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Rubio claims that @USAID lifesaving assistance for health and humanitarian needs will continue. But his team just communicated that the entire agency will be imminently reduced from 14,000 to 294 people. Just 12 in Africa.
In 1998, USAID was also formally established in statute. Laws as recent as 2024 mandate that reorganization or downsizing requires Congressional notification – a process in which the chair or top minority member of a relevant committee can issue a hold.
February 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
In 1998, USAID was also formally established in statute. Laws as recent as 2024 mandate that reorganization or downsizing requires Congressional notification – a process in which the chair or top minority member of a relevant committee can issue a hold.
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, signed into law by JFK mandated the creation of a single agency for administering civilian foreign aid. On November 3, 1961, Executive Order 10973 then formally established the U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID.
February 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, signed into law by JFK mandated the creation of a single agency for administering civilian foreign aid. On November 3, 1961, Executive Order 10973 then formally established the U.S. Agency for International Development – USAID.