FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Media Contact: 
Pheniece Jones 
Director, Media Relations 
703.875.8974 
media@pscouncil.org 

PSC Urges Congress to Support USAID Staffing for Program Management Goals

 Arlington, Va. (May 20, 2022) In a May 16, 2022, letter to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Professional Services Council (PSC) and its Council of International Development Companies (CIDC) urged the committee to provide USAID with the full funding request, along with the hiring flexibility that would enable the agency to expand the number of personnel who support program management efforts and to work closely with the agency in evaluating how well those staffing levels are achieved.

Written in advance of the Committee’s May 17, 2022, hearing with USAID Administrator Samantha Power on The FY23 Budget Request: USAID’s Foreign Policy and International Development Priorities, PSC’s letter supported the Administrator’s position that the agency could better implement programs if it had a full complement of trained contracting officers to evaluate, award, and manage projects.

“As foreign assistance needs increase, USAID must continue to plan and execute programs with both measurable goals and real impact,” said PSC President and CEO David J. Berteau. “PSC recognizes that this only happens if USAID has the authority and funding to hire and maintain a capable and diverse workforce, including contracting professionals. Our CIDC member companies recognize and support this.” 

Berteau emphasized USAID’s key role in overall U.S. national security. “Our security environment—and by extension, our nation—is stronger and more stable when USAID can achieve success on its development goals,” he stated. “PSC looks forward to continuing a robust dialogue with both the agency and its congressional partners on these important efforts.”

Please click here for a PDF of this release. 

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