DOGE Cuts to Global Vaccine Aid Spark Deadly Measles Outbreak in Bangladesh

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) may have failed to save taxpayers much money, but it left a trail of devastation in global health infrastructure. Nowhere is this more evident than in Bangladesh, which is grappling with one of the worst measles outbreaks in recent memory.

According to the Guardian, over 100 children have died due to gaps in vaccination coverage, with more than 900 confirmed measles cases reported since the outbreak began in March. Two-thirds of those affected are over nine months old—the age at which infants typically become eligible for measles vaccination.

The United Nations has partnered with the Bangladeshi government to launch an emergency vaccination drive, but for many families, the damage is already irreversible.

Vaccine Shortages Stem from DOGE-Driven Cuts

The root of this public health crisis lies in a severe shortage of vaccine stockpiles. This shortage traces back to DOGE’s sweeping spending cuts to the US Agency for International Development (US AID), which forced Bangladesh’s interim government to shut down critical healthcare programs—from tuberculosis screenings to public maternity clinics.

“I am particularly worried about the immunisation programme. If there is a disruption, the success we have achieved in immunisation will be jeopardised.”

— Nurjahan Begum, health advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government (via France24)

France24 reported that US AID had been a primary funder of vaccine access for 2.3 million children in Bangladesh, covering diseases like measles, diphtheria, polio, and tetanus.

US AID Funding Plummets Under DOGE

As recently as 2024, the US allocated $371 million in aid to Bangladesh, with tens of millions designated for public health. By 2025, that figure dropped to $288 million, and this year, it will fall to just $24 million. Additionally, US AID is clawing back $1.2 million in already-promised funds from Bangladesh.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh is not alone. The Center for Strategic and International Studies reports that 85% of US AID distribution has been cut, a move expected to result in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths across some of the world’s poorest nations. While DOGE itself may be gone, its devastating impact on global health will persist for years.

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