USAID deputy administrator to leave agency

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s leadership team is undergoing a shake-up in the final year of U.S. President Joe Biden’s first term. Deputy Administrator Paloma Adams Allen plans to leave the agency, according to three sources with knowledge of her decision. Adams Allen is USAID’s second in command — who supervises the overall management, budgeting, and day-to-day operations of the agency and serves as USAID’s chief operating officer. Two of the sources told Devex that her position will be filled on an acting basis by Dennis Vega, currently USAID’s chief of staff. Vega’s chief of staff role will in turn be handed over to Rebecca Chalif, who currently serves as the deputy assistant administrator for legislative and public affairs. It is a rare reshuffle within USAID Administrator Samantha Power’s politically appointed “front office,” which comes at a time before November’s election when it is typical to see personnel changes in a presidential administration. Adams Allen has served as deputy administrator since October 2021. She was appointed as part of a restructuring that saw the creation of a second deputy position under Power. Adams Allen holds the preexisting deputy role, while a second deputy administrator, Isobel Coleman, provides strategic guidance to the agency’s functional and regional bureaus. Asked by Devex to confirm the forthcoming changes or share additional information, USAID’s press team declined to comment.