With New USAID Acting Director, 3 Men Of Cuban Descent Will Implement Their Visions Of US Policies For Cuba, Venezuela; A Furthering Ideological Concentration
/With New USAID Acting Director, Three Male Officials Of Cuban Descent Will Implement Their Visions Of US Policies For Cuba, Venezuela; A Furthering Generational Change & Ideological Concentration
The Trump Administration leadership change at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) which has a 2019/2020 budget of US$39.3 billion will result in more robust advocacy for further expansion of constrictive policies towards the Republic of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua among other countries- as the new Acting Administrator of USAID will create a USAID-NSC-State Department triangular power structure of three middle-aged white males of Cuban descent.
This absence of diversity may result in decisions lacking complete perspective. The concentration of commonality may result in decisions absent of fulsome debate.
Expect an increasingly strident, antagonistic, zero-sum, and masculine theme particularly nearer to the 3 November 2020 presidential election in the United States- if the Maduro Administration in Venezuela remains in office.
The three officials are expected to track closely with the objectives of a fourth individual of Cuban descent, The Honorable Marco Rubio (48 years old), a member of the United States Senate from Florida. Senator Rubio is Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women’s Issues.
The Honorable John Barsa (52 years old), to be appointed Acting Administrator of USAID. The legislative calendar for the United States Senate during the remaining days of 2020 is presumably a primary reason Mr. John Barsa was not nominated to be Administrator, although the Trump Administration has shown an affinity for installing acting personnel rather than submitting nominations for consideration by the United States Senate.
The Honorable Carlos Trujillo (37 years old), nominated on 17 March 2020 to be Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA). Ambassador Trujillo is replacing The Honorable Michael Kozak (74 years old), since 2019 the Acting Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
The Honorable Mauricio Claver-Carone (45 years old), Senior Director- Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC) in The White House.
The White House
Washington DC
17 March 2020
“President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Designate Individual to a Key Administration Post
Today, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to designate the following individual to a key position in his Administration:
John Barsa, of Florida, to be the Acting Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Mr. Barsa currently serves as the Assistant Administrator for the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, working to support democracy related programs in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
Mr. Barsa previously served in the Department of Homeland Security in a variety of leadership roles and in the United States Army Reserves for nearly a decade, serving as a member of the 11th Special Forces Group and the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion. Mr. Barsa also worked for United States Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida and also served in external engagement roles within the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. He is a graduate of Florida International University.”
Mr. Barsa’s biography from USAID:
“John Barsa was sworn in on June 10, 2019, as the Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean. To this role, Barsa brings considerable experience from decades of service in the public and private sectors.
Mr. Barsa comes to USAID from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where he led the DHS Office of Partnership and Engagement (OPE) as the Acting Assistant Secretary and later as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. In these roles he oversaw DHS’s coordination and collaboration with governors, mayors and other intergovernmental partners, the private sector, the law enforcement community, and other key stakeholders. His leadership was also critical in the successful efforts by OPE’s Blue Campaign in combatting the scourge of human trafficking.
Mr. Barsa began his career at DHS in the Trump Administration as Special Assistant to Secretary John Kelly, a position he took after serving on President Trump’s DHS landing team during the Administration’s transition. During the historic 2017 hurricane season, he deployed to South Florida to assist with Hurricane Irma preparation and response. Later, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, he deployed to Puerto Rico where he designed and led one of the most complex and challenging intergovernmental affairs efforts in FEMA history.
John Barsa’s civilian experience in the Executive Branch extends back to the Administration of President George W. Bush, when he was appointed to lead senior level coordination with the private sector and support legislative affairs efforts for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Soon after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, he was asked to create and lead the DHS Office of Public Liaison. In this role, he successfully coordinated all DHS outreach to key critical stakeholders under the leadership of Secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff.
Barsa first entered public service as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, initially with the 11th Special Forces Group and later with the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion. While still in the Reserves, he started working in the U.S. House of Representatives for Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL). In this capacity, much of his work focused on defense and other issues related to national security. Part of his portfolio included support for democracy and human rights in Cuba, Nicaragua, and throughout the Western Hemisphere. He also played an active role in the passage of the Nicaraguan Adjustment Central American Relief Act (NACARA), which modified U.S. immigration laws.
In the private sector, he has held key positions with a premier defense trade association, small businesses and large businesses including a leading Fortune 100 company.
The son of a Cuban refugee, Mr. Barsa grew up in a fully bi-lingual and bi-cultural family in Miami, Florida. He has a bachelors degree in International Affairs from Florida International University and is a graduate of Syracuse University’s National Security Management Fellows Program.”
Mr. Barsa’s biography from The Republican National Hispanic Assembly Of Virginia:
John Barsa is the founder and principal of Barsa Strategies, a firm providing a full spectrum of consulting and lobbying services within the homeland and national security environments. Mr. Barsa has extensive political and legislative experience spanning the past fifteen years where he both served in, and worked along with, the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch on national and homeland security issues.
Mr. Barsa served within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as its original Director of the Office of Public Liaison, managing DHS interaction with the public as well as private and public organizations. As Director, Mr. Barsa worked with both Secretaries Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff as DHS developed and grew during its formative years. He was a senior-level participant in several national exercises such as Top Off and Pinnacle and he led a team in JFO New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Mr. Barsa created the DHS Speakers Bureau, which matches senior DHS officials with strategic conferences and meetings, in order to promote the Department’s overall goals. He has a national array of contacts in the homeland security environment and an intimate knowledge of the current DHS decision-making processes and organization. Further, Mr. Barsa is sought by current and former government officials for his advice on the complex interactions between the public/private sector, state and local governments, the U.S. Congress and the Executive branch. He is proud to serve as a Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute.
Prior to working at DHS, Mr. Barsa served at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Administrator Sean O’Keefe, re-establishing a permanent, formal industry-liaison function. When Mr. Barsa was recruited to NASA’s Legislative Affairs team, he was able to leverage his strong bi-partisan relationships in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate not only to help ensure the passage of crucial appropriations and authorizing legislation, but also to improve Congressional communications and institutional relationships in general.
Mr. Barsa arrived at NASA from the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) where he served as a senior lobbyist and Manager for International Relations. AIA represents the nation's leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military, and business aerospace products. As a lobbyist for AIA, Mr. Barsa’s skill in working with various member-companies to coordinate coherent and unified legislative strategies was crucial to AIA’s many successes within the U.S. Congress.
In the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Barsa worked for an influential Member of Congress who served as Assistant Majority Whip, as well as on the powerful House Rules Committee and Homeland Security Committee. Mr. Barsa’s strength in coalition-building and coordinating both legislative and political strategies were integral to many of the Congressman’s international and national security-related victories, including the successful campaign to re-locate the U.S. Southern Command to Miami, Florida. Mr. Barsa’s ability to work across the aisle has earned him the respect and long-lasting friendship of many Congressional Republicans and Democrats alike.
Mr. Barsa served his country for a decade as a Member of the U.S. Army Reserves. He spent seven of those years with the 11th Special Forces Group where he was a communications specialist. After his time with the Special Forces, Mr. Barsa served as a member of the 450th Civil Affairs Battalion, a Special Forces unit attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. The ability to develop and execute successful relationship-building strategies has led to his achievements both within these elite units as well as the civilian world.
A native of Miami, Florida, Mr. Barsa received his B.A. in International Relations from Florida International University. He is a native Spanish-speaker and a former Chairman of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Virginia. In addition, Mr. Barsa is an active participant in numerous other political and social organizations within his adopted state of Virginia. He resides in Alexandria with his wife and two young daughters.
