American Foreign Service Association President Tex Harris sent members a fax Sunday alerting them the word at the State Department is that "the White House is looking at keeping [the U.S. Information Agency and the Agency for International Development] intact as general policy and product development centers, but integrating their operations" into a joint operation.
Under this plan, State, USIA and AID officers responsible for the same geographic area would work side by side in the same office, Harris said.
Supporters of the plan argue it would improve coordination, but detractors claim it would jeopardize "America's public diplomacy and sustainable development functions" and would not satisfy critics on Capitol Hill, Harris explained.
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