The prospect of a U.S. government shutdown over the FY2011 budget still hangs over Washington. While the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) was just 0.03% of the FY2010 budget (and could be even less in FY2011), the FY2011 and FY2012 budget woes could cut more than MCC money; they could...

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Welcome to budget season FY2012 -- and FY2011. Adding to the usual budget chaos in Washington this time of year is not one, but two budgets. President Obama released his FY2012 budget request yesterday. Meanwhile Congress is...

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) says the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) should stop funding development projects awarded to non-U.S. companies in Africa. I can think of three reasons this response is misguided:

1. 1. It's bad development. Restricting overseas development contracts to domestic bidders - so-called "tied aid" - buys...

This is a joint post with Todd Moss.

Last week, we said USAID administrator Raj Shah couldn't captain his own ship without a crew of Senate-confirmed leaders. Good news: the administration has since nominated a deputy administrator and assistant administrator for democracy, conflict, and humanitarian assistance; so four...

More than a year-and-a-half after United States President Barack Obama was sworn into office, 12 management jobs at the U.S. Agency for International Development still require Senate confirmation.

To date, only one official -- USAID Administrator Raj Shah -- has been confirmed. While Shah has skilled and capable leaders in...