Gates Foundation to Cut Up to 500 Jobs and Launch External Review of Epstein Ties

The Gates Foundation is cutting up to 500 jobs, or roughly 20% of its staff, over the next several years, according to an email cited by the Wall Street Journal. The foundation has also opened an external review of its engagement with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Journal reported on Tuesday, citing the same email.

The review includes the foundation's policies for vetting and developing new philanthropic partnerships, the Journal added.

' An update on the external review is expected in the summer, according to the memo cited by the Journal. The Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. In February, the Gates Foundation stated that it did not make any financial payments to Epstein or employ him at any time.

The foundation also stated in February that it regrets having any employees interact with Epstein in any way. Emails released in January by the Justice Department showed communication between Epstein and the Gates Foundation’s staff. The Justice Department documents included photos of Bill Gates posing with Epstein, as well as with women whose faces were redacted.

Bill Gates said his relationship with Epstein was confined to philanthropy. Bill Gates denied spending time with victims of Epstein’s sexual abuse.

During a town hall meeting with foundation employees in February, Bill Gates took responsibility for his actions regarding his ties to Epstein, a foundation spokesperson told Reuters. The Gates Foundation was started by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his then-wife in 2000. The Gates Foundation is one of the world's biggest funders of global health initiatives.