https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/oig-reports/ISP-IB-19-22.pdf
The FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act6 amended the 1994 Act and by establishing the CEO, by law, as a presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed position, it elevated the CEO position over the board7 and redefined the role of the board as advisory. In addition, section 6203(b)(1) of the 1994 Act, as amended, provides that until such time as a CEO is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, “the current or acting Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Board may continue to serve and exercise the authorities and powers under this chapter.” At the time of the inspection, the incumbent CEO and seven board members remained in their positions, pending Senate confirmation of the White House nominee to head the agency.8
Once a CEO is confirmed by the Senate, the provisions of the amended law will be fully applicable. A newly constituted board—The International Broadcasting Advisory Board, also appointed by the President but no longer confirmed by the Senate—will have only advisory authority and receive no compensation. The future advisory board will be reduced to five members, four of whom “should” be selected from a bipartisan slate proposed by Congress, plus the Secretary of State. The CEO will serve at the pleasure of the President and will have sole authority to appoint and remove the leadership of USAGM’s five broadcast entities. The three grantee broadcast entities, as privately registered corporations, will continue to require fiduciary boards under the provisions of applicable state law.9 At the time of the inspection, the incumbent USAGM board members served concurrently on the boards for the three grantee broadcast entities to meet these fiduciary requirements.
USAGM oversees one of the world’s largest news gathering and reporting operations, delivering program content in 60 languages to more than 100 countries using a range of broadcast and digital platforms. USAGM’s budget for FY 2018, including funds allocated to the three grantee broadcast entities, totaled $808 million. USAGM Civil Service technical support and administrative staff totaled approximately 330, with another 1,120 Civil Service personnel employed at VOA and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. USAGM’s five media entities combined employed more than 3,500 journalists, producers, technicians, and support personnel through a combination of Civil Service and contractor positions.