In a note obtained by POLITICO, Ziemer implied that he’s retiring, and said he had informed the White House of his decision on Monday. He wrote that the choice was “very difficult and emotional.”
“After 50+ years of service to my country, it’s now time for me to move on to the next phase of my life,” Ziemer wrote in the brief missive. “It will be difficult for me to be sitting in the bleachers observing your life-saving and significant efforts around the world, but be assured I will be an advocate and voice for all you are doing.”
Ziemer’s current title is listed as senior deputy assistant administrator on USAID’s website, but colleagues said he was actually serving as an acting assistant administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, whose duties include promoting good governance as well as disaster response.
USAID recently acquired a new acting administrator, John Barsa, and there have been some leadership changes as a result. Ziemer, who did not respond to a request for comment, may have felt it was a natural time to depart.
Ziemer’s exact role in the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has not been entirely clear, and he’s kept a low profile. Colleagues described him as an authoritative voice on health and disaster issues who was advising others more directly involved in the overall Trump administration response.
Source: politico.com
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