Espionage Fears SURGE After Stunning Visa Revelations

House Oversight Committee launches investigation into USAGM after discovering over 1,500 employees in sensitive roles with falsified background checks, raising serious national security concerns as foreign nationals potentially from adversary nations gain access to U.S. government operations.

Key Takeaways

• House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene are investigating the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for security vulnerabilities, visa misuse, and corruption.
• Over 1,500 individuals were employed in sensitive positions based on falsified background checks, creating significant national security risks.
• USAGM allegedly misused the J-1 visa program to hire inadequately vetted foreign nationals from adversarial countries, potentially enabling foreign espionage.
• 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.
• Lawmakers have requested comprehensive information from USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake with a July 1 deadline to address these serious concerns.

Security Vulnerabilities Expose Agency to Foreign Influence

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which operates with a nearly $1 billion budget to promote freedom and democracy worldwide, is now under intense scrutiny for potentially compromising national security. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have launched an investigation into longstanding security and management failures at the agency that oversees Voice of America and other international broadcasting operations. Their investigation has uncovered alarming evidence of inadequate security protocols that may have allowed foreign actors to infiltrate U.S. government operations.

“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,” stated Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer of Kentucky and Government Efficiency Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Multiple investigations have revealed that over 1,500 individuals were employed in sensitive roles based on falsified background checks. This shocking revelation raises serious concerns about who has been given access to U.S. government facilities, information, and systems. The lack of proper vetting procedures creates an environment ripe for exploitation by foreign intelligence services seeking to gather information or influence American media operations abroad. President Trump’s administration had implemented reforms to address these issues, but these measures were reportedly reversed under the Biden administration.

J-1 Visa Program Abuse Creates National Security Threat

Perhaps most concerning in the investigation’s findings is the alleged misuse of the J-1 visa program by USAGM officials. According to the committee’s letter, the agency routinely employed foreign nationals who were poorly vetted, including individuals from nations considered adversarial to the United States. This practice not only potentially violated immigration laws but also created a direct pipeline for foreign influence within an agency responsible for America’s international broadcasting. The committee believes these practices have created significant national security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by foreign intelligence services.

“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,” wrote Mr. Comer and Ms. Greene.

The investigation has also revealed that the Biden administration ignored repeated warnings from both the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) regarding security vulnerabilities at USAGM. Instead of heeding these warnings, the administration reportedly reversed “long-overdue and necessary reforms, including security reforms” that were implemented during President Trump’s first term. This decision to roll back security measures has potentially left the agency exposed to infiltration by foreign actors seeking to undermine American interests.

Financial Misconduct and Conflicts of Interest

Beyond security concerns, the investigation has uncovered evidence of financial misconduct and conflicts of interest within USAGM leadership. The committee found that agency officials allegedly abused their authority when awarding grants, including by directing funds to entities despite major conflicts of interest. This corruption raises questions about whether taxpayer dollars are being used to advance personal interests rather than the agency’s stated mission of supporting freedom and democracy worldwide. With a budget of nearly $1 billion, proper oversight of USAGM’s financial operations is essential.

“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,” stated by the lawmakers.

The investigation comes at a critical time as President Trump has already taken action regarding USAGM. In March, he issued an Executive Order to eliminate nonstatutory components of the agency, leading to legal battles and job impacts for VOA contractors. More recently, approximately 75 Farsi-speaking VOA staffers were recalled from administrative leave to cover the Iran-Israel conflict, highlighting the ongoing operational challenges facing the agency. Chairman Comer and Chairwoman Greene have requested comprehensive information from USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake with a deadline of July 1, demanding transparency about national security risks, budget allocations, financial records, personnel locations, and conflicts of interest.