House Appropriations Hearing on State and Foreign Ops

On Thursday, the House Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations, held a hearing on “Key Issues for Congressional Oversight.”  Managing Director of International Affairs and Trade for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Jacquelyn Williams-Bridgers testified before the subcommittee. Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) is Chair of the subcommittee.  Bridgers testified that direct U.S. investment in Afghanistan and Pakistan is at considerable risk given the limited capacity of the recipients to manage and implement funds appropriately.  There is significant risk that the funds end up supporting terrorism which only highlights the need for better U.S. oversight, she contended.  She stated that the State Department lacked outcome based measures to measure effectiveness of such programs.  On Iraq, Ms. Bridgers noted that given the Iraqi government’s continued security budget surpluses, the U.S. should focus on cost-sharing arrangements in light of additional funding the administration has requested.  She also highlighted concerns about the State Department and USAID’s staffing levels and skills gap.  Calling the gaps “critical,” the surge in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan has ensured compromises in staffing in other regions where she states junior officers are filling positions above their grade levels.  These junior officers are unable to handle the increased burden and often lack language skills and provide inefficient reporting on terrorism and economic issues.  The shortage has also increased the U.S. government’s reliance on private contractors.

To read the full GAO report(PDF), click here.