USAGM agrees to reforms after watchdog report on media cuts

The State Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report finding that the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) failed to follow critical procedures when reducing worldwide operations following Executive Order 14238. The watchdog noted that the agency did not adequately weigh costs and benefits, use reliable data, or maintain strategic and workforce planning during the cuts.

The reductions significantly impacted major networks, including Voice of America (VOA), which stopped producing new content in all languages in March 2025, and Radio Free Asia, which halted radio and satellite transmissions. The OIG report also suggested that these cuts hindered the ability to advance U.S. national interests and counter disinformation in authoritarian countries.

USAGM has agreed to implement six recommendations from the OIG, which include establishing a statutory minimum, defining agency goals, and developing a strategic plan. As of July 2026, VOA and Radio Free Asia have resumed broadcasting in several languages, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting has returned to 24-hour operations. USAGM has informed Congress of plans to expand VOA operations and increase programming for Persian and Korean audiences.