Agency for International Development

Gayle Smith, the new State Department Coordinator for Global COVID-19 Response and Health Security, speaks about U.S. leadership in fighting the coronavirus pandemic at the State Department in Washington, Monday, April 5, 2021. (Al Drago/Pool via AP)

Former USAID administrator becomes global COVID-19 response coordinator

The Biden administration has appointed a new coordinator for its global COVID-19 response. On Monday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the former administrator for the Agency for International Development, Gayle Smith, will take on the role.