The House Oversight Committee has launched a bombshell investigation into the U.S. Agency for Global Media, revealing that potentially thousands of foreign nationals from adversarial countries were hired with minimal vetting, creating what lawmakers call a “playground for espionage” within a taxpayer-funded federal agency.
Key Takeaways
- House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene are investigating severe security vulnerabilities at USAGM, an agency with a nearly $1 billion budget.
- Investigations revealed over 1,500 individuals were employed in sensitive roles based on falsified background checks, with USAGM misusing visa programs to hire foreign nationals from adversarial countries.
- The Biden administration reportedly reversed Trump-era security reforms despite warnings from the Office of Personnel Management and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
- USAGM senior officials allegedly abused their authority when awarding grants, including to entities with major conflicts of interest.
- The Committee has requested comprehensive information from USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake, with a deadline of July 1, to address these national security concerns.
A Federal Agency Compromised
The U.S. Agency for Global Media, tasked with promoting freedom and democracy abroad through its media networks, has become the focus of intense congressional scrutiny. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have initiated a formal investigation into what they describe as “longstanding security vulnerabilities exacerbated by mismanagement” at the agency. Their investigation centers on allegations that USAGM routinely employed poorly vetted foreign nationals through visa programs, potentially exposing sensitive government operations to foreign influence.
“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is conducting oversight of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, especially longstanding security vulnerabilities exacerbated by mismanagement—a situation that persisted for years at the agency. The Committee has reason to believe that USAGM routinely and improperly utilized visa programs to employ poorly vetted foreign nationals, including from nations adverse to the United States. The Committee is also aware that USAGM officials abused their authority when awarding grants, including by awarding them to entities despite major conflicts of interest. The USAGM has a budget of just less than $1 billion to fulfill its mission of ‘inform[ing], engag[ing] and connect[ing] people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.’ The agency has two ‘federal networks’—Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting—and five purportedly independent ‘networks and grantees,’ which include Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia (RFA), Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Open Technology Fund (OTF), and Frontline Media Fund ” stated by the lawmakers.
Alarming Security Vulnerabilities Uncovered
Multiple investigations have uncovered disturbing patterns of security lapses at USAGM. The State Department’s Office of Inspector General found that over 1,500 individuals were employed in sensitive roles based on falsified background checks. Even more concerning, USAGM has been exploiting the J-1 visa program to bring foreign nationals into journalistic positions that could have been filled by American citizens. This practice has raised serious concerns about potential foreign espionage operations being conducted within a U.S. government agency.
“USAGM misused the J-1 visa program to bring in foreign nationals for journalistic roles that could have been filled by American citizens. These practices, combined with inadequate vetting, raise concerns that USAGM may have enabled foreign espionage and exposed U.S. national security to significant threats,” said Mr. Comer and Ms. Greene.
Biden Administration Reversed Critical Security Reforms
According to the congressional investigation, the Biden administration dismantled security reforms implemented during President Trump’s first term that were designed to address the agency’s vulnerabilities. These reforms had been requested by both the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence due to serious concerns about the agency’s practices. The reversal of these security measures has potentially exacerbated the already significant national security risks posed by USAGM’s operations.
“Reportedly, the Biden Administration reversed ‘long-overdue and necessary reforms, including security reforms’ that the first Trump Administration implemented to address repeated requests ‘by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) that had been ignored by USAGM,” stated by the lawmakers.
Demand for Accountability
Chairman Comer and Chairwoman Greene have sent a detailed letter to USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake requesting comprehensive information about the agency’s operations, including security vulnerabilities, financial records, personnel locations, and conflicts of interest. The lawmakers have set a July 1 deadline for USAGM to provide the requested information. This investigation represents a critical step toward addressing what appears to be significant mismanagement and security failures at an agency entrusted with nearly $1 billion of taxpayer money.
“House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) are seeking answers from Kari Lake, the senior advisor at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), regarding concerns about foreign influence,” stated by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.
President Trump’s Decisive Action
Recognizing the severe national security implications, President Trump issued an Executive Order in March to eliminate nonstatutory components of USAGM. This decisive action has sparked legal battles and impacted contractors at Voice of America, but represents a necessary step to secure America’s interests against foreign infiltration. Recently, approximately 75 Farsi-speaking VOA staffers were recalled from administrative leave to cover the Iran-Israel conflict, highlighting the ongoing operational challenges as reforms are implemented.
