Hasan Minhaj Doesn't Know Inside the Destruction of USAID with Dr. Atul Gawande
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Sep 3, 2025 
In a compelling discussion, Atul Gawande, former USAID Head of Global Health and a Harvard professor, dives into the catastrophic cuts to USAID and their implications for global health. He highlights the agency's past successes and the chilling prospect of preventable deaths due to misinformation. Gawande also critiques media biases affecting public perception of global health funding. The conversation emphasizes the urgent need for activism to counteract these damaging trends and the vital role of institutions in supporting vulnerable populations.
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USAID's Long-Term Mission
- USAID was built as a long-term, independent agency to advance health and stability worldwide over decades.
- Its mission focused on prevention and partnership rather than short-term political wins.
Personal Ties To Global Health
- Atul Gawande described personal family connections to USAID-era programs like the Green Revolution and smallpox eradication.
- His own ability to work globally was shaped by those historical health initiatives.
High Impact For Relatively Small Cost
- USAID's staff and modest budget delivered large-scale lifesaving results across many countries.
- A recent study credited USAID with preventing roughly 92 million deaths over 20 years.