USAID deputy leader ousted

Washington, Nov 7 (IANS) Bonnie Glick, the second-highest ranking leader of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has been ousted amid a staff shake-up, the media reported.Glick's ousting on Friday night came on her last day and her position would be filled by John Barsa, the current acting administrator of the agency, whose tenure expired at midnight under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, The Hill news website quoted the USAID as saying in a statement.Barsa was confirmed by the Senate as administrator for USAID's Latin America and Carribbean bureau and he assumed the post of acting administrator in April after USAID administrator Mark Green departed in March.Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, Barsa's term was expected to end as of midnight on November 6, approximately 210 days from the time the administrator's position became vacant.Glick, as deputy administrator, was expected to assume leadership of USAID with Barsa's termination. But the Friday night shake-up removed her and instead Barsa was appointed the acting deputy role.On her departure, USAID called Glick "a tremendous champion", adding: "The entire USIAD family owes Bonnie a debt of gratitude for her leadership and her accomplishments and wishes her well in all of her future endeavours."The Washington D.C.-based USAID was created by late President John. F. Kennedy in 1961 to "lead the US government's international development and humanitarian efforts", according to a post on the agency's website.Currently, USAID works in over 100 countries.
--IANS ksk/