The U.S. Congress has reached a deal to fund the Voice of America, with lawmakers from both parties agreeing to provide approximately $653 million for its parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
It seems to be a notable expression of congressional dissatisfaction with the direction of the administration’s efforts to dismantle U.S. international broadcasting. But that doesn’t mean the bill will become law. The funding package requires final House and Senate approval and then would head to the president’s desk.
But it includes language that reauthorizes the USAGM to “make and supervise grants for radio, internet and television broadcasting.”
The money is part of the broader spending bill known as the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The Washington Post first reported the funding agreement.
The $653 million figure is down from approximately $860 million appropriated for the agency in each of the past two years, the Post reported, but it is more than four times the approximately $150 million President Trump requested that Congress provide to “support the orderly shutdown of USAGM operations.”
In addition to VOA, funding would also be explicitly reestablished for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. In essence this would reverse the March 2025 executive order that froze their budgets and terminated existing grant agreements.
USAGM Senior Advisor Kari Lake, who has spearheaded the administration’s effort to shut down U.S. international broadcasting, issued a statement, according to The Desk: “While reductions from prior years are a step in the right direction, USAGM can still advance President Trump’s message and share America’s story globally without wasting so much taxpayer money.”
Funding breakdown
The funding, according to Radio World’s review of the conferenced agreement between the House and the Senate, is divided into two primary accounts:
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International Broadcasting Operations: $643 million for necessary expenses related to international communication activities, which includes VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia. Of this total, $199.5 million is allocated specifically for VOA.
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Broadcasting Capital Improvements: $9.7 million for the purchase, rent, construction, repair and improvement of facilities and equipment. This includes radio, television and digital transmission and reception facilities worldwide.
Radio infrastructure and transmission
The bill contains specific language protecting shortwave and medium-wave terrestrial broadcast operations:
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Office of Cuba Broadcasting: The bill mandates that at least $30 million be made available for the OCB. It requires OCB’s medium- and shortwave broadcasting be maintained at no less than the fiscal year 2024 level to ensure it can reach all provinces in Cuba.
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Capital Improvement Scope: Funds in the Capital Improvements account are earmarked for the installation of equipment for radio, television and digital transmission, including specific upgrades for broadcasting to Cuba.
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Congressional Oversight of Platform Changes: The USAGM must follow “regular notification procedures” of 15 days’ notice before making significant modifications to broadcast hours or transmission platforms, including shortwave, medium wave, satellite, internet and television.
Nonprofit media grantee funding
The bill provides specific allocations for USAGM’s authorized grantees:
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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL): $112.5 million.
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Middle East Broadcasting Networks: $69 million.
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Radio Free Asia: $53.5 million.
Under the bill, the USAGM would be permitted to reprogram funds between these entities, but no individual grantee’s funding would be allowed to be reduced by more than 10 percent without prior congressional notification.
Additionally, the USAGM CEO would be instructed to brief Congress quarterly until Sept. 30, 2027, about the status of transmissions, facilities and real property.
President Trump would likely issue a veto if it includes money earmarked for USAGM, The Desk predicted.
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