USAGM and Government Media Funding

Congress approved $643 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media in the FY2026 National Security, Department of State and Related Programs bill — roughly a 25% cut that lawmakers say was negotiated after talks involving USAGM senior adviser Kari Lake. The reduced funding passed as House Republicans, divided over former President Trump’s executive order to shutter the agency (courts said he lacked authority to strip congressionally approved funding), opted to accept the cut to keep a must‑pass bill intact given their razor‑thin majority.