Anna Miller says USAID is the Titanic of agencies, and she’s OK with it hitting the iceberg!
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
The recent revelations about USAID’s $550 million contract fraud — enabled by former contracting officer Roderick Watson — are outrageous, but sadly, not surprising. For years, USAID has operated with minimal scrutiny and maximum insulation, creating fertile ground for corruption.
This case, involving lavish bribes, shell companies, and fake invoices, is just one example of what happens when accountability is treated as optional.
While the scheme was formally exposed by the Department of Justice and USAID’s own Office of Inspector General, it’s worth noting that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has targeted USAID as emblematic of bloated bureaucracy and systemic waste and fraud. The fact that it took more than a decade for this fraud to come to light says everything about the culture within the agency.
Public funds are meant to serve real people — not to line the pockets of insiders and their associates. USAID needs a top-to-bottom audit, real independent oversight, and a housecleaning that goes far beyond one prosecution.
USAID is the Titanic of agencies, and I’m ok with it hitting the iceberg!
Anna Miller
Camas
Also read:
- Opinion: The legislature has committed $2.4 billion to recurring pension increases since 2018
Six legislative COLAs have raised public employer costs by $2.38 billion since 2018, driving up unfunded pension liabilities and increasing burdens on county and city budgets. - Opinion: ‘Just because they got away with it doesn’t mean they weren’t wrong’
A Skamania County deputy’s report found violations of county rules and the Open Public Meetings Act, but no prosecutor acted on the findings. - Opinion: Small things grow great by concord
Washington’s initiative process gives citizens direct power to challenge lawmakers. Failed restrictions and new measures on girls’ sports, parental rights, and citizenship prove the influence of grassroots action. - Opinion: California’s $20 fast food minimum wage creates less jobs and lower income
Study data show California fast food workers now face fewer shifts, higher menu prices, and widespread automation after the $20 wage hike. - Opinion: State is rightly emphasizing experience and skills, not degrees
Elizabeth New explains how a new state policy removes unnecessary advanced degree requirements, supporting skills-based employment and broadening opportunities for capable workers.
wpDiscuz
