DOGE Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has launched an investigation into what she calls “gross negligence” and “rampant cronyism” at the U.S. Agency for Global Media—a taxpayer-funded media organization that claims to operate with neutrality but has recently come under intense scrutiny.
On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order directing the dismantling of seven federal agencies and offices, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees outlets such as Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “The non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law,” the president’s executive order reads.
As the administration reveals hundreds of millions of dollars in federal waste linked to these agencies, Rep. Greene is launching a separate investigation into what she has called a “direct threat to national security” within the agency. In a letter addressed to Kari Lake, the Trump Administration’s senior advisor overseeing USAGM, Greene said that over the past decade, the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have uncovered “gross negligence and intentional defiance of national security protocols, resulting in unfettered and unauthorized access of sensitive information by federal employees.” The letter was first obtained and reviewed by Fox News.
Greene cited a 2020 investigation by the law firm McGuireWoods, which supported whistleblower claims of widespread corruption and mismanagement within the U.S. Agency for Global Media. The report detailed abuses such as the unlawful issuance of J-1 visas and the awarding of millions in contracts through the Open Technology Fund to friends and individuals with clear conflicts of interest.
She also pointed to additional “egregious abuses” uncovered in the probe, including evidence that senior agency officials wiped laptops before handing them over to investigators. While many of those implicated were dismissed during Trump’s first term, Greene emphasized that “nearly all” were rehired under the Biden administration, “allowing them to resume their previous activities with zero consequences.” As part of the investigation, Greene is requesting access to all grant agreements awarded through the Open Technology Fund, all settlement agreements involving individuals named in the McGuireWoods report, and any additional communications or documents deemed relevant by CEO Amanda Bennett or Acting CEO Jeffrey Trimble, according to Fox News.
“For years, USAGM engaged in rampant cronyism, issuing 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’s office announced in a statement. In a separate statement to Fox News, Greene described the Biden Administration’s decision to rehire those involved in the wrongdoing not only an “insult to taxpayers” but also a “direct threat to national security.” She added: “We will not allow the former Biden regime to cover up illegal activity and shield bad actors from accountability.”