USAID opens budget office, agency will assume more responsibility for its resources

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah recently told agency staff "of the creation of the new USAID Office of Budget and Resource Management (BRM), to be led by his senior budgetary advisor Mike Casella," Foreign Policy's blog, "The Cable," reports, adding that this will "give USAID an increased role in developing and then justifying parts of its own budget going forward."

"Casella came to USAID after a stint as branch chief for international economic affairs at the White House's Office of Management and Budget and before that was acting vice president for administration and finance at the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Casella will lead a team of 35 to 40 budget specialists throughout USAID who will connect the new office to the regional and functional offices throughout the organization," according to the blog.

In a letter to USAID staff, Shah wrote that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "is committed to enhancing USAID's budget capabilities ... Beginning next year, USAID will have increased responsibility for executing its development and humanitarian assistance budget." USAID and the BRM office will collaborate with the State Department's director of foreign assistance. "The Cable" includes a full copy of the letter (Rogin, 9/13).