“Our nation is getting beat by Putin propaganda and our international broadcasting is floundering. It’s unacceptable,” Royce stated in the release.
Royce stressed the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency of the US government supervising all government-supported civilian international media, must be reformed.
The lawmaker noted that former US Secretary of State Hilllary Clinton called the agency ‘defunct,’ and that current Secretary of State John Kerry said he was committed to reforming the agency.
“For too long, the BBG has lurched from crisis to crisis, destroying the reputation of brands like the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe in the process,” Royce said.
“Over the years, defenders of the status quo have argued that the BBG is generally on the right track and that only minor reforms or hiring the right CEO would do the trick,” he added.
Royce’s statement comes after the resignation of BBG Chief Executive Officer Andrew Lack, who left the post after 42 days in office.
“This resignation, once again, leaves the BBG truly rudderless,” Royce said, adding that in reality, the BBG’s problems go far beyond one person or one office. “CEOs come and go, yet the BBG limps along.”
Nuland added that the BBG will commit $23.2 million to Russian language broadcasting referred to as “Russian propaganda.”
The State Department is also requesting an additional provision of more than $20 million in assistance to promote US-supported broadcasts to ramp up efforts to counter lies with truth.
The US Congress has already authorized $10 million for 2015 to promote alternative Russian-language broadcasts in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries through the 2014 Ukraine Freedom Support Act.
