Marjorie Taylor Greene Launches Investigation into Alleged Corruption and Negligence at U.S. Agency for Global Media
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, representing Georgia’s 14th congressional district, has initiated a formal investigation into the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a government-funded international media organization. Greene, who chairs a subcommittee focused on oversight, is alleging widespread cronyism, gross negligence, and potential national security breaches within the agency.
Greene’s concerns center on the USAGM’s structure, staffing, and alleged financial mismanagement. She has publicly stated that the issues plaguing the USAGM represent a grave threat to the national security interests of the United States.
The USAGM, established in 1999, oversees a network of international broadcasting entities, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Its mission is to provide objective news and information to audiences in countries where access to a free press is restricted or nonexistent. The agency has historically been staffed by individuals with backgrounds in mainstream media outlets, with past CEOs having previously held leadership positions at MSNBC and NPR.
Greene’s investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of the USAGM’s operations and effectiveness. Kari Lake, who served as a senior advisor in the Trump administration with oversight responsibilities for the USAGM, has been a vocal critic of the agency, deeming it "not salvageable" and a "giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer." Lake has characterized the USAGM as "a national security risk for this nation" and "irretrievably broken."
Former President Donald Trump also targeted the USAGM. He issued an executive order, titled "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy," that called for the dismantling of the USAGM, along with several other government offices.
In light of these concerns and the pending potential dismantling of the agency, Greene is seeking to conduct a thorough review of the USAGM’s records and operations. She has formally requested that Lake provide Congress with access to key documents to shed light on what Greene alleges are serious instances of corruption, financial mismanagement, and national security failures.
Greene’s request is formalized in a letter addressed to Lake, in which she outlines specific concerns regarding the USAGM’s handling of sensitive information and potential breaches of security protocols. The letter cites findings from the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which allegedly uncovered evidence of gross negligence and intentional defiance of national security protocols. According to Greene, these failures resulted in "unfettered and unauthorized access of sensitive information by federal employees."
To bolster her case, Greene references a "full-scale investigation" launched in 2020 by the independent law firm McGuireWoods. This investigation reportedly confirmed whistleblower testimonies regarding severe mismanagement and corruption within the USAGM.
Greene alleges that the abuses uncovered by the McGuireWoods investigation included the unlawful granting of J-1 visas and the awarding of millions of dollars in contracts through the Open Technology Fund (OTF) to individuals with conflicts of interest. The OTF is an organization that aims to support internet freedom technologies globally.
According to Greene, the McGuireWoods investigation also revealed instances of senior officials at the USAGM erasing entire laptop hard drives before turning them in to investigators. These actions, Greene alleges, were intended to obstruct the investigation and conceal evidence of wrongdoing.
While the individuals responsible for these alleged abuses were reportedly terminated during the Trump administration, Greene claims that "nearly all" of them were rehired under the Biden administration. She asserts that this decision allowed them to "resume their previous activities with zero consequences."
Greene is seeking access to a range of information from Lake, including all grant agreements awarded through the Open Technology Fund, all settlement agreements for individuals implicated in the McGuireWoods report, and any additional communications or information that Lake deems relevant.
Greene’s office issued a statement accusing the USAGM of engaging in "rampant cronyism" for years. The statement claims that the agency issued "corrupt contracts to friends and family through the Open Technology Fund (OTF), while senior officials bypassed security protocols, mishandled sensitive information, and obstructed investigations."
Greene has publicly condemned the Biden administration’s decision to rehire the officials responsible for the alleged abuses, calling it "an insult to taxpayers" and "a direct threat to national security."
"We will not allow the former Biden regime to cover up illegal activity and shield bad actors from accountability," Greene stated. Her investigation signals a commitment to holding those responsible for any wrongdoing at the USAGM accountable.
The investigation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what information Greene’s team will uncover and what actions will be taken as a result. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the future of the USAGM and its role in international broadcasting.
