AFSA's Letter to Administrator Natsios Regarding the USAA Matter

April 8, 2004

Hon. Andrew S. Natsios
Administrator, USAID
RRB 6.09-010
Washington , DC 20523

Dear Mr. Natsios:

         During our meeting last month, you will recall that AFSA raised the issue of new USAID Foreign Service officers no longer being eligible to join USAA. New State Department Foreign Service officers are not being denied eligibility, but those in the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) at USDA, Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) at Commerce, and the International Broadcasting Bureau are being denied. At the time of our meeting, you graciously offered to intervene with USAA on behalf of USAID FSOs. However, AFSA requested that you defer pending a meeting we were having with Secretary Powell, where we hoped his intercession would be sufficient.

        Within the last two weeks, AFSA met with Secretary Powell and raised the USAA issue. Secretary Powell asked if you or Secretaries Veneman or Evans had made calls or sent letters to USAA. We indicated that, as yet, none of you had. Secretary Powell agreed to look into the matter, but it was clear to AFSA that he also wanted his counterparts at the individual agencies and departments to take their own initiatives.

        Therefore, by this letter, AFSA is asking that you call the CEO of USAA, Mr. Robert G. Davis, and ask that he and the USAA Board reconsider their decision. There is only one Foreign Service, and it will be demoralizing and divisive if companies make such harmful distinctions. Please note USAA's multiple responses to AFSA (dated May 21, 2003 ; November 21, 2003 ; and February 12, 2004 ) where it is stated that somehow USAID's mission is insufficiently security-related vis-à-vis State's.

        During your next conversation with Secretary Powell, AFSA requests that you also urge him to make the call to Mr. Davis.

        Lastly, AFSA is working closely with USDA and the Department of Commerce. Together, the AFSA representatives within each of these agencies are preparing a joint letter hopefully to be signed by you along with Secretaries Evans and Veneman. The annual USAA Board meeting is coming up in May and we are hoping that this issue can be put on the agenda. For that reason we ask for your earliest attention to this matter.

        AFSA would also appreciate being notified once you have been able to make the call. We thank you in advance, Mr. Administrator, for your kind assistance regarding this matter.

        Sincerely,

 

        William M. Carter
        Vice President, AFSA/AID

 

cc:	Mr. Frederick Schieck, Deputy Administrator
	Mr. Douglas Aller, Chief of Staff
	Ms. Colleen Allen, Deputy Chief of Staff
Attachments:	Correspondence between AFSA and USAA.
	Supporting documents regarding USAID's national security role.