Atul Gawande on Elon Musk's "Surgery with a Chainsaw"

Elon Musk's critique of the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) marked a significant shift in governmental priorities, reflecting a greater agenda under the Trump administration aimed at dismantling agencies involved in global development. Atul Gawande, a respected public health expert and former official at U.S.A.I.D., expressed his dismay over the targeting of the agency, which he regards as a representation of American values. Musk's sentiments not only diminish the agency's work but also pose a threat to global aid efforts, casting a shadow on the future of American soft power.

In January, 2022, Atul Gawande, a surgeon and public-health expert, was shocked to witness USAID being targeted by Trump and Musk, considering it a soft target for MAGA.

Atul Gawande describes USAID as 'America at its best,' yet critiques the shift in priorities within the new administration, emphasizing that 'Power is what matters, not impact.'

Read at The New Yorker