WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green to express his concerns over alleged pay inequities at the development agency.
“As I know you agree, building a diverse USAID workforce that draws on the talents of all Americans regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation is critical to mission success,” wrote Menendez. “If USAID has fallen short of such ideals in the past, you have an opportunity to secure as part of your legacy an assurance that that will no longer be the case in the future.”
The letter, which requests USAID provide necessary documentation to demonstrate full salary for the last decade for senior officials, including bonuses and pay increases delineated by gender and rank, comes as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reviews allegations regarding a “significant, sustained, and possibly structural gap in compensation between female and male senior officials at USAID.”
A copy of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear Administrator Green:
I write to express my concern about alleged pay inequities at USAID. It has come to my attention that allegations regarding a significant, sustained, and possibly structural gap in compensation between female and male senior officials at USAID currently stands before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. I understand that other current and former employees have alleged or are considering alleging similar pay disparities.
As I know you agree, building a diverse USAID workforce that draws on the talents of all Americans regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation is critical to mission success. A crucial piece of sustaining such a workforce is equality in pay, benefits, and career opportunities. If USAID has fallen short of such ideals in the past, you have an opportunity to secure as part of your legacy an assurance that that will no longer be the case in the future. I stand ready to work with you to appropriately address and resolve any pay disparities within the Agency.
Please provide my office with detailed information demonstrating full salary for the last 10 years for senior officials (FE-OC, FE-MC, and FE-CM) at USAID, including pay structure, awards of bonuses and salary increases, and the value of benefits packages, delineated by gender and position/rank.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your written response by April 30, 2018, and I look working with you on this important issue.
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