Senate confirms former Obama official Samantha Power to lead USAID

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The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Samantha Power to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Senators voted 68-26 to confirm Power, who served in the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

President Biden is also expected to put Power on the White House National Security Council, where she served during Obama’s first term. Continue reading.

‘Very difficult and emotional’: Pandemic expert leaves Trump administration

Timothy Ziemer’s departure robs the Trump administration of another expert as it tries to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

A disaster response official who previously led a global health directorate disbanded by the Trump administration is leaving the government.

Timothy Ziemer’s departure robs the Trump administration of another expert as it tries to battle the coronavirus pandemic. The former Navy rear admiral is highly regarded and has decades of government service, although he has been somewhat sidelined during the ongoing crisis.

Ziemer landed at the U.S. Agency for International Development after his directorate at the National Security Council was dismantled by then-national security adviser John Bolton in 2018. He informed colleagues Tuesday of his decision to leave, which he said will take effect June 5. Continue reading.