Two bills approved by Congress awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature would limit the powers of Michael Pack, the president’s pick to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and four other international media organizations. A massive spending measure for COVID-19 relief and U.S. government operations approved late Monday by Congress and a previously approved National Defense Authorization Act both include changes limiting the powers of the USAGM and its chief executive, but in different ways. The two bills taken together could restrict Pack’s actions between now and January 20, when Democratic President-elect Joe Biden takes office. And if Biden decides to replace Pack, it would provide that person with more leeway in making personnel changes for the first three months. For example, the spending measures approved by the House and Senate on Monday include a provision that would give the Open Technology Fund more time to respond to a USAGM letter proposing that the internet freedom fund be denied additional federal funding. Pack cited alleged conflicts of interest and alleged irregularities in his proposal to cut off future federal funds to the nonprofit organization that helps support internet access throughout the world. FILE – Michael Pack, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, is seen at his confirmation hearing, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Sept. 19, 2019. Pack’s nomination was confirmed June 4, 2020.The latter two appointments were announced Tuesday evening. Victoria Coates, a senior policy adviser to Congress and the White House, will be president of MBN and Stephen Yates, a former deputy national security adviser in the Office of the Vice President and language analyst at the U.S. Department of Defense, will be president of RFA. Lawmakers, including House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Eliot Engel, a Democrat from New York, and ranking Republican Michael McCaul of Texas have raised concerns over the suitability of some of the choices. USAGM said it was unable to immediately respond to VOA’s queries. Other provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act include preventing the CEO or federal employees from serving on a grantee board and a requirement that board members have expertise in journalism, technology or diplomacy. Extension for OTF Debarment Response The spending package approved Monday also explicitly gives the OTF 90 days to respond to the proposed debarment that would strip it of federal funding. In a December 15 letter informing the OTF of the proposed action, USAGM gave the grantee 30 days to respond. In the letter, Pack cited alleged conflicts of interest and irregularities identified by McGuireWoods, a private law firm hired to carry out compliance reviews, as reason for the proposed debarment. OTF disputes the allegations. OTF president Laura Cunningham told VOA the move was an attempt to “destroy OTF by hijacking and weaponizing a process intended to protect the public interest.” The OTF welcomed the extension granted by the spending bill. “That a bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers was able to come together at the highest level on such a short timeline to take this action, is an incredible demonstration of their commitment to protect internet freedom and their support for OTF,” Cunningham told VOA. Over 2 billion people globally use tools and technologies supported by OTF, according to the USAGM website, including popular encryption tools like Signal and the Tor Project. With a focus on open-source technology, the OTF helps journalists and activists circumvent surveillance and censorship.
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