Breakthrough Energy, the climate organization funded by Bill Gates, is downsizing its U.S. policy team and European operations as it pivots away from influencing government policy.
David Gelles and Theodore Schleifer report for The New York Times.
In short:
- Breakthrough Energy laid off dozens of employees, including its U.S. policy team, European unit, and partnership staff.
- The shift comes as Gates recalibrates his climate efforts under a Trump administration that has rolled back federal clean energy support.
- Gates is now emphasizing private-sector clean energy investments rather than direct policy influence.
Key quote:
“Bill Gates remains as committed as ever to advancing the clean energy innovations needed to address climate change.”
— Spokesperson for Bill Gates
Why this matters:
Bill Gates' decision to scale back his climate policy influence comes at a precarious moment for environmental efforts in the United States. With President Trump doubling down on fossil fuel expansion and stripping back federal climate initiatives, private philanthropy has been one of the few counterweights to these rollbacks. The retreat of a key private player like Gates could signal a broader realignment in climate funding.
With federal support dwindling, the burden falls more heavily on private entities and state-level efforts. But without high-profile figures like Gates pressing for systemic change, the influence of climate-conscious philanthropy could diminish. The result may be a funding gap that makes it even harder to counteract the administration’s aggressive fossil fuel policies.
