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: Democrats side with Tehran while Trump defends America
  Lars Larson argues Democrats are aligning with Iran while President Trump acts against what he calls a national security threat.
• 
  Letter: Facts over fiction
  Brian D. Kendall disputes claims about LEOFF 1 pensions and urges voters to focus on facts and democratic norms.
• 
  Opinion: WA House Finance Committee passes income tax bill
  Ryan Frost argues that ESSB 6346, which would impose a 9.9 percent income tax, advances to the House floor despite widespread opposition and ongoing budget growth.
• 
  Opinion: A-pillars – The safety feature that increases crashes
  Doug Dahl explains how wider A-pillars designed to protect occupants in rollovers may also reduce visibility and increase crash risk for other road users.
• 
  POLL: Will lawmakers’ actions at Tuesday’s State of the Union Address impact your voting in the upcoming mid-term election?
  Clark County Today’s latest poll asks voters whether lawmakers’ conduct during the State of the Union will influence their mid-term election decisions.