USAID is a sh!#show

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Could be, but the Hill likes it separate. More Hill control over their policy. Trump 1 also loved USAID. We had Ivanka hulking around a lot. Good photo ops. There is strong bipartisan support for USAID. I imagine they’ll kill the Ukraine funding and give it a 20% haircut. Could be RIFs.

They will definately kill more than that.

Hopefully, USAID works better when it is lean. Kill all the bloat I say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PBS News Hour just did a three-part expose on USAID projects that do not produce results, benefitting largely the DC-based development contracting firms (e.g. Chemonics) who are most familiar with contract vehicles and writing proposals. USAID declined to comment.

I’m an SES in USAID and agree with a lot of this. The PBS piece gets it about 50% right, maybe a little more. There are too many little bureaus and offices. They need to cut and consolidate. Take a hard look at what is working, as in working to change things, not working as in what bureau spends the most money and employs the most people.

[Anonymous]

They also need to revamp internal hiring and selection processes. Everything goes to inside candidates, all the job listings are a sham. They pretend to care about diversifying leadership positions but actually they don't. And once you are in the system you are totally stuck with no promotion ability, at least as GS staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Could be, but the Hill likes it separate. More Hill control over their policy. Trump 1 also loved USAID. We had Ivanka hulking around a lot. Good photo ops. There is strong bipartisan support for USAID. I imagine they’ll kill the Ukraine funding and give it a 20% haircut. Could be RIFs.

I doubt a 20% haircut on Ukraine funding or even the reductions in international AID planned to be attempted by the DOGE organization would result in RIFs. I understand under the first Trump administration there were USAID budget cuts, but no RIFs. Does anyone on this thread have sources for the RIF expectation under this new administration or is it just pure speculation?

[Anonymous]

sad that i could tell who the head of usaid was from the first pages of description before the name just from prior roles - remember her self promotion show and doing little else productive at the beginning of Obama's term - prime example of grift on the left and I am a huge liberal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised OP seems to be complaining about Power — she seems to me actually highly qualified and like a do-er not a talk-er. Really, I think that’s the best political appointment one could hope for.

I have heard that she is a nightmare self promoter and not at all good to work for.

I have heard the same. I also heard that she grew the PR shop exponentially while she was there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PBS News Hour just did a three-part expose on USAID projects that do not produce results, benefitting largely the DC-based development contracting firms (e.g. Chemonics) who are most familiar with contract vehicles and writing proposals. USAID declined to comment.

Here's the first part of their report.

[Anonymous]

Whelp.

[Anonymous]

Yup. They are changing the name of USAID to "Horse Head"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yup. They are changing the name of USAID to "Horse Head"

Wow. The last week has been awful, especially today with the contractor termination. It’s clear that the point is really to destroy all US foreign assistance. What they are doing is- firing so many contractors and stop work, freeze funds, etc. - is not designed for “review and fix”, it is designed to permanently kill US aid to other countries. It’s very short-sighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup. They are changing the name of USAID to "Horse Head"

Wow. The last week has been awful, especially today with the contractor termination. It’s clear that the point is really to destroy all US foreign assistance. What they are doing is- firing so many contractors and stop work, freeze funds, etc. - is not designed for “review and fix”, it is designed to permanently kill US aid to other countries. It’s very short-sighted.

It’s not short sighted. Trump, Rubio and cronies just want to kill most foreign aid. Sorry to kids who were getting dewormed and access to clean water…the American people don’t care if you die.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PBS News Hour just did a three-part expose on USAID projects that do not produce results, benefitting largely the DC-based development contracting firms (e.g. Chemonics) who are most familiar with contract vehicles and writing proposals. USAID declined to comment.

Maybe the problem is Demonics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup. They are changing the name of USAID to "Horse Head"

Wow. The last week has been awful, especially today with the contractor termination. It’s clear that the point is really to destroy all US foreign assistance. What they are doing is- firing so many contractors and stop work, freeze funds, etc. - is not designed for “review and fix”, it is designed to permanently kill US aid to other countries. It’s very short-sighted.

It’s not short sighted. Trump, Rubio and cronies just want to kill most foreign aid. Sorry to kids who were getting dewormed and access to clean water…the American people don’t care if you die.

We let lots of people die around the world who could be helped. Now we'll just let a few more die.

[Anonymous]

These layoffs were unfortunate of course but there is so much redundancy and bloat at the agency. It needed to be trimmed. Next up, they need to trim back all the term limited positions, including the Foreign Service limited. It's a detriment to the real Foreign Service and to the Civil Service. Over the last 4 years they have brought in hundreds of people under this mechanism, many of whom are not technical specialists in their areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yup. They are changing the name of USAID to "Horse Head"

Wow. The last week has been awful, especially today with the contractor termination. It’s clear that the point is really to destroy all US foreign assistance. What they are doing is- firing so many contractors and stop work, freeze funds, etc. - is not designed for “review and fix”, it is designed to permanently kill US aid to other countries. It’s very short-sighted.

It’s not short sighted. Trump, Rubio and cronies just want to kill most foreign aid. Sorry to kids who were getting dewormed and access to clean water…the American people don’t care if you die.

Not to mention brewing outbreaks of diseases and unrest. That stuff doesn't stay in other countries.