Congress seeks more control over government news agency
A key panel has voted to reform a US news agency whose Middle East coverage has long frustrated lawmakers.
On April 30, the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved reforms to the government news agency that require it to promote US foreign policy goals and give Congress greater oversight over its operations, notably in the Middle East.
The bill, which passed by unanimous voice vote, would replace the Broadcasting Board of Governors with a US International Communications Agency overseeing Voice of America. It would consolidate other news operations — including the Middle East Broadcasting Network — under a separate Freedom News Network.
The move comes as lawmakers — and the administration — are increasingly frustrated at the US government's inability to counter what they call Russian propaganda.
"Traveling to Eastern Ukraine, our delegation witnessed the Russian propaganda machine — now in overdrive — and its attempts to undermine regional stability," committee chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said at Wednesday's mark-up. "Unfortunately, US broadcasters — the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and others — are competing with a hand tied behind their back."
