"As Congress considers policy responses to the global spread
of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Members of
Congress may consider the impact of the pandemic on U.S.
foreign assistance agencies and programs, and explore the
pandemic’s influence on U.S. foreign aid priorities. This
analysis focuses on current pandemic-related personnel and
program issues at the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) and other U.S. foreign assistance
agencies, and identifies potential concerns about the
pandemic’s effect on U.S. global development strategies.
Personnel
On March 14, the State Department authorized the return to
the United States of high-risk U.S. government personnel
and family members from diplomatic or consular posts
abroad. The impact of such departures varies by post.
USAID maintains that all of its staff under Chief of Mission
authority are following State Department guidance on
authorized and ordered departure. The Millennium
Challenge Corporation (MCC) is also authorizing the
departure from overseas posts on a limited basis. The Peace
Corps, in contrast, has suspended all operations worldwide
out of concern that disruptions in international air travel
may make guaranteeing volunteer safety difficult. A
worldwide volunteer evacuation is underway; post staff
have not yet been evacuated..."
COVID-19 and foreign assistance
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