Congratulations to John Barsa on his designation by President Trump as Acting Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) upon my departure on April 10. Having had the privilege of serving as Administrator for the last two-and-a-half years, I am in a unique position to understand the important work this position entails, and I look forward to helping John prepare for his new duties before I return to the private sector next month.

As Assistant Administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean at USAID, John has focused on the President's priorities of promoting democracy, standing up to tyranny, and advancing our national security and economic interests in the Western Hemisphere. These same priorities will serve him well in his new role, as he leads one of the finest teams in the U.S. Government to carry out our mission of furthering democratic values and human dignity abroad and helping make the world free, peaceful, and prosperous.