News outlets report on a White House statement announcing President Obama’s intent to nominate Gayle E. Smith to head USAID.

Foreign Policy: Obama Taps Insider Gayle Smith to Lead USAID
“President Barack Obama has tapped a longtime Africa expert and member of his inner circle to run USAID, a move that likely will draw the strapped aid agency closer to the White House…” (Francis, 4/30).

New York Times: Obama Nominates Gayle Smith to Lead USAID
“…If confirmed by the Senate, Ms. Smith, a longtime development and Africa specialist in the Clinton and Obama administrations, would succeed Dr. Rajiv Shah, who left the agency in February after five years on the job…” (Cooper, 4/30).

PBS NewsHour: Obama to nominate Gayle Smith as next USAID chief
“… ‘Gayle’s energy and passion have been instrumental in guiding America’s international development policy, responding to a record number of humanitarian crises worldwide, and ensuring that development remains at the forefront of the national security agenda at a time when USAID is more indispensable than ever,’ the president said in a statement…” (4/30).

POLITICO: Obama nominates Gayle Smith as USAID chief
“…Smith previously served as a senior aide on the White House National Security Council staff, focusing on development and democracy policy, after a stint at the Center for American Progress. She also served in the Clinton administration and worked for two decades as a journalist in Africa…” (Lerner, 4/30).

TIME: President Obama to Nominate Gayle E. Smith as USAID Chief
“…The announcement comes just as the work of USAID is being put to much needed use. The department’s disaster and recovery team landed in Nepal on Wednesday, where they’re joining in the global effort to help survivors of Saturday’s massive earthquake…” (Rhodan, 4/30).

VOA News: Gayle Smith Nominated to Lead USAID
“…John Prendergast, founding director of the Enough Project, which Smith co-founded, said Smith ‘has spent her entire professional life doing work that perfectly prepares her to lead USAID’…” (4/30).

Wall Street Journal: White House Official Gayle Smith Tapped to Lead USAID
“… ‘Her expertise and vision have been instrumental to the administration’s successes in promoting food security, global health, Power Africa, and the Ebola response, to name just a few of our humanitarian and development priorities,’ [National Security Adviser Susan Rice] said…” (Schwarz, 4/30).