Project 2025 Tracker / What’s done, what’s next

Section 2 · The Common Defense

8 Media Agencies (USAGM, CPB)

235–252 · Mike Gonzalez , Mora Namdar

  • 6 done
  • 1 partially done
  • 1 attempted
  • 4 blocked
  • 16 not started

Major recommendations (4)

What has happened

The Mandate said

“If the de facto aim of the agency simply remains to compete in foreign markets using anti-U.S. talking points that parrot America’s adversaries’ propaganda, then this represents an unacceptable burden to the U.S. taxpayer and a negative return on investment. In that case, the USAGM should be defunded and disestablished.”

What happened

Blocked

Unchanged, and firmer. The district court denied the government's motion for reconsideration of the ruling that Kari Lake exercised the CEO's authorities unlawfully, so the finding that her actions — including the reduction-in-force notices — have no force or effect stands. Read alongside the D.C. Circuit's 2026-03-31 order, whose stay reached only the return-to-work clause and no part of the merits, the position on 2026-09-03 is that USAGM exists, is funded by P.L. 119-75, and is operating under a live district-court judgment; the case remains active, with status reports every two weeks through 2026-08-27 and a motion hearing set for 2026-09-04.

The Mandate said

“If the de facto aim of the agency simply remains to compete in foreign markets using anti-U.S. talking points that parrot America’s adversaries’ propaganda, then this represents an unacceptable burden to the U.S. taxpayer and a negative return on investment. In that case, the USAGM should be defunded and disestablished.”

What happened

Blocked

The D.C. Circuit stayed the March 17 orders only 'to the extent that they require that all employees placed on administrative leave ... shall return to work', consolidated the appeals (Nos. 26-5086, 26-5087) and asked the parties to address whether the 2025 appeals are moot. The rest of the judgment stands; USAGM exists, funded, under court supervision.

The Mandate said

“If the de facto aim of the agency simply remains to compete in foreign markets using anti-U.S. talking points that parrot America’s adversaries’ propaganda, then this represents an unacceptable burden to the U.S. taxpayer and a negative return on investment. In that case, the USAGM should be defunded and disestablished.”

What happened

Blocked

On partial summary judgment the court held that Kari Lake's service as de facto acting CEO violated the Appointments Clause and the Vacancies Act (2026-03-07), so her actions — including the 2025-08-29 reduction-in-force notices to 532 employees — have no force or effect, and that the March 2025 shutdown of USAGM and VOA was arbitrary and capricious and unlawfully withheld statutorily required broadcasting; it ordered employees on leave since March 2025 back to work.

The Mandate said

“All of which means that the next conservative President must finally get this done and do it despite opposition from congressional members of his own party if necessary. To stop public funding is good policy and good politics.”

What happened

Done

With no federal funding left, CPB's board voted to dissolve the corporation after 58 years; most staff had gone by 2025-09-30. The Mandate's ask — stop public funding — is complete; the corporation itself is winding down.

The Mandate said

“All of which means that the next conservative President must finally get this done and do it despite opposition from congressional members of his own party if necessary. To stop public funding is good policy and good politics.”

What happened

Done

The Rescissions Act of 2025 (H.R. 4, P.L. 119-28) rescinded the amounts appropriated to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for FY2026 (P.L. 118-47) and FY2027 (P.L. 119-4) — about $1.1 billion, CPB's entire forward funding. House 214-212 (2025-06-12), Senate 51-48 (2025-07-17), House concurrence 2025-07-18.

Still to come

Executive action 15

  1. 244 Put Voice of America in the direct chain of command under the NSC Major Not started
  2. 242 Fully reinstate USAGM's Office of Internet Freedom Notable Not started
  3. 244 Otherwise place VOA under State's Office of Global Public Affairs Notable Not started
  4. 244 Enforce the Smith–Mundt bar on USAGM messaging to domestic audiences Notable Not started
  5. 248 Instruct the FCC to strip PBS and NPR stations of NCE status Notable Not started
  6. 239 Remove USAGM personnel reinstated after firings for security violations Minor Not started
  7. 241 Keep USAGM personnel security and suitability authority at DOD and OPM Minor Not started
  8. 241 Implement security protections for USAGM journalists at risk Minor Not started
  9. 242 Stop USAGM's use of J-1 visas and use I visas for foreign journalists Minor Not started
  10. 242 Upgrade and refund USAGM shortwave radio transmission capability Minor Not started
  11. 243 Enforce federal hiring law and end nepotism at USAGM Minor Not started
  12. 243 Create a White House office and NSC liaison for USAGM Minor Not started
  13. 244 Coordinate USAGM messaging with State's foreign-language social media platforms Minor Not started
  14. 244 Put State's Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary in USAGM accountability loop Minor Not started
  15. 244 Make the Secretary of State's seat on the USAGM board directive Minor Not started

Blocked in court 4

  1. 245 Defund and disestablish USAGM if it is not reformed Major Blocked

    Blocked May 14, 2026.

  2. 238 Terminate the Open Technology Fund's grantee status Notable Blocked

    Blocked Apr 15, 2026.

  3. 242 Consolidate redundant USAGM language services across VOA, RFA, and RFE/RL Notable Blocked

    Blocked Mar 17, 2026.

  4. 245 Install effective acting USAGM leadership pending CEO confirmation Minor Blocked

    Blocked May 14, 2026.

Needs Congress 1

  1. 245 Overhaul USAGM with congressional review to modernize and reduce waste Notable Not started

All recommendations in this chapter

Every recommendation this chapter is the home of, in printed-page order.

  1. 235 Refocus USAGM's mission on presenting the truth about America Partially done
  2. 237 End RFE/RL's Hungarian-language service Szabad Európa Done
  3. 238 Terminate the Open Technology Fund's grantee status Blocked
  4. 239 Remove USAGM personnel reinstated after firings for security violations Not started
  5. 239 Keep the USAGM Firewall Regulation revoked Done
  6. 241 Keep USAGM personnel security and suitability authority at DOD and OPM Not started
  7. 241 Implement security protections for USAGM journalists at risk Not started
  8. 242 Cut USAGM spending to under $700 million per year Needs Congress Done
  9. 242 Consolidate redundant USAGM language services across VOA, RFA, and RFE/RL Blocked
  10. 242 Fully reinstate USAGM's Office of Internet Freedom Not started
  11. 242 Stop USAGM's use of J-1 visas and use I visas for foreign journalists Not started
  12. 242 Upgrade and refund USAGM shortwave radio transmission capability Not started
  13. 243 Enforce federal hiring law and end nepotism at USAGM Not started
  14. 243 Create a White House office and NSC liaison for USAGM Not started
  15. 244 Put Voice of America in the direct chain of command under the NSC Not started
  16. 244 Otherwise place VOA under State's Office of Global Public Affairs Not started
  17. 244 Coordinate USAGM messaging with State's foreign-language social media platforms Not started
  18. 244 Enforce the Smith–Mundt bar on USAGM messaging to domestic audiences Not started
  19. 244 Put State's Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary in USAGM accountability loop Not started
  20. 244 Make the Secretary of State's seat on the USAGM board directive Not started
  21. 245 Install effective acting USAGM leadership pending CEO confirmation Blocked
  22. 245 Overhaul USAGM with congressional review to modernize and reduce waste Needs Congress Not started
  23. 245 Consolidate USAGM's subparts and place the agency under NSC and/or State Needs Congress Attempted
  24. 245 Defund and disestablish USAGM if it is not reformed Needs Congress Blocked
  25. 246 Strip the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of taxpayer funding Needs Congress Done
  26. 247 Refuse to sign any appropriations bill funding the CPB Needs Congress Done
  27. 247 End the CPB's advance appropriations Needs Congress Done
  28. 248 Instruct the FCC to strip PBS and NPR stations of NCE status Not started