The U.S. Needs an International Media Outlet
By signing the Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy executive order on Friday, March 14, 2025, President Donald J. Trump appears to have knocked out seven agencies. One of them was the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The action argues that it seeks the “reduction” of portions inside the federal bureaucracy that the executive branch may deem “unnecessary.” It remains unknown whether this action is to be permanent or a renovation of the institution. For the sake of reverting cultural socialism and globalism at home and abroad, one of the administration's stated objectives, let us hope it is the latter.
The USAGM is a self-governing agency of the U.S. government responsible for broadcasting news and information in nearly 50 languages, reaching approximately 361 million individuals weekly. For Fiscal Year 2025, the agency requested a total budget of $950 million to support its operations and capital investments. These encompass various media outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio Marti), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), and the Open Technology Fund. Its reach encompassed many areas pivotal to American interests, as well as the cause of liberty. Among these places are Cuba, China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia.
Kari Lake, USAGM Senior Adviser, stated on the agency’s website on March 15, among other things, that there were “massive national security violations, including spies and terrorist sympathizers and/or supporters.” Additionally, the American politician and former television news anchor noted that there was “self-dealing involving contracts, grants, and high-value settlement agreements.” It is important that espionage operations within the USAGM, as Lakes suggest, be dealt with. A thorough investigation must be carried out and criminal charges levied on the guilty. Fraud, waste, and abuse must also be scrutinized and expunged.
Foreign and domestic enemies are constantly spying and attempting to impact the U.S. by way of penetrating key institutions. Every branch of the American Armed Forces, for example, has been prey to consistent espionage campaigns by foreign powers, as well as U.S.-born Marxist and Islamic sympathizers that serve subversive purposes. The military has also been popularly criticized for the egregious and unaccountable handling of public funds. Yet, no one would responsibly propose eliminating the Armed Forces.
It would be reckless for the U.S. to permanently cease international media transmissions. The promotion of freedom and democracy abroad is not about altruism. Challenging the public discourse that tyrannical governments and their movements advance is in America’s interest. The biggest threat to the U.S. and the West comes from regimes and their proxies that subscribe to Marxist-Leninist and Islamic belief models. The drug traffickers from south of the border and the cartels that distribute the poison all have a symbiotic relationship, directly or indirectly, with Latin American socialism.
War requires not just armor, but minds convinced by consciousness. The price for winning requires warfare on the ideological front. This requires an aggressive and dedicated international news agency. To clean, reformulate, and vitalize USAGM would be wise. Pretending that the U.S. could do without an international media agency and remain unchallenged by our enemies is naïve and could prove deadly overtime.
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🖋️Author Julio M. Shiling
Julio M. Shiling is a political scientist, writer, columnist, lecturer, media commentator, and director of Patria de Martí and The CubanAmerican Voice. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science from Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, Florida. He is a member of The American Political Science Association, The PEN Club (Cuban Writers in Exile Chapter) and the Academy of Cuban History in Exile.
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