Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act
S. 491, the Foreign Assistance Accountability and Oversight Act, would create a new Director of Foreign Assistance within the Department of State. The Director would report directly to the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources and would oversee the strategic planning, budgeting, performance, and interagency coordination of U.S. foreign assistance programs across the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The bill emphasizes evidence-based policy, integrated budgeting, and greater transparency and evaluation of foreign aid, with the goal of aligning aid delivery with U.S. policy goals and ensuring robust congressional oversight. It also imposes a 90-day limit on the use of appropriated funds after enactment and imposes Senate-confirmation requirements for the Director, while restricting acting appointments beyond 90 days.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a Director of Foreign Assistance within the Department of State to oversee and optimize U.S. foreign aid, reporting to the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources, and prohibiting the Director from holding another government position simultaneously.
- 2Duties include aligning foreign assistance with top State Department goals, measuring effectiveness, promoting evidence-based budgeting and execution, enhancing data analysis and reporting, and coordinating interagency planning and policy development.
- 3The Director serves as a key resource for the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Under Secretaries, USAID Administrator, and other federal entities implementing foreign aid, and leads integrated budgeting, planning, and performance processes.
- 4Requires the Director’s appointment by the President with Senate confirmation; no acting Director for more than 90 days without Senate confirmation; and any adverse personnel decisions by the Director (or staff) require approval by the Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources.
- 5Mandates timely obligation of funds: all appropriated funds to DOS or USAID (or under the Director’s direction) must be available to obligate within 90 days after enactment of the related appropriation Act. Also includes a Sense of Congress emphasizing the importance of strategic, transparent, and accountable foreign assistance and notes the status of USAID as codified outside the Department of State.