From Fox News: Despite President Donald Trump’s past efforts to shut it down, Republicans passed a spending package that includes $643 million for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), choosing legislative unity over a fight that could have derailed the must-pass spending bill.
The move underscored the GOP’s ongoing struggle to pursue party objectives while also crafting legislation that can unite Republicans amid razor-thin margins in the House of Representatives.
The funding goes toward radio, internet, television and broadcasting grants in the Middle East. The item passed both chambers of Congress this week as part of this year’s National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Act (NSRP).
Rep. Mark Alford, R-Mo., one of the legislators who worked on the NSRP, said the final number came about from talks with Kari Lake, a senior advisor for the agency with close ties to the president.
“I continue to communicate with her often and look forward to working with her as she tries to right this program and get it back to its original intent,” Alford said of Lake.
“I think the cuts that we’re making, which is a 25% reduction, is a significant step forward to meeting what Kari Lake wants as well. I’m hoping that we can do even more in the 2027 appropriations bill,” he added.
Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) said, “I would prefer that the federal government funds zero. We support the president’s executive actions and his executive orders, and we endeavor to codify them. We just don’t have extra money to spend on things.”
“But I’m not going to let something like that stop me from supporting the larger measure,” he added.
“What we’re proving at USAGM is that even when you right-size an agency by bringing it down to its statutory minimum, you can still operate effectively while producing content that’s truthful, honest, and aligned with American national interests,” Lake said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday.
What we’re proving at USAGM is that even when you right-size an agency by bringing it down to its statutory minimum, you can still operate effectively while producing content that’s truthful, honest, and aligned with American national interests. pic.twitter.com/DtBqyndK45
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) January 15, 2026
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