Part 6/13:
Looking ahead, Renesi suggested reimagining USAID as a subordinate division under the State Department’s Secretary of State, subject to proper oversight and budgetary control—akin to how the military operates through the Defense Department. The current setup, established in 1961 during the Kennedy administration, granted USAID a degree of independence that arguably hampers accountability.
He advocates for a return to congressional authority—requiring budget approval and oversight—with strict term limits potentially curbing the self-interests that perpetuate long tenures and excessive spending.