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USAGM Head Resigns Following Biden Request

Jessica Jerreat

   WASHINGTON - The head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media stepped down
   Wednesday afternoon at the request of President Joe Biden shortly after
   Biden took office.

   Michael Pack served for just over seven'¯tumultuous'¯months as the
   first chief executive of the'¯agency under new legislation giving him
   expanded powers over the networks.

   The former conservative documentary filmmaker's tenure'¯was marked with
   lawsuits, whistleblower complaints, a subpoena from Congress and court
   orders barring him from interfering'¯with the operations'¯of networks
   and grantees he oversaw, including Voice of America and the Open
   Technology Fund,'¯which supports global internet freedom.

   In a farewell statement to staff, Pack said he'¯had been'¯"solely
   focused upon reorienting the agency toward its mission and "to help the
   agency share America's story with the world objectively and without
   bias." Pack added'¯that he believes "much needed reform" was achieved
   under his leadership.

   Many of his actions, however, were condemned by'¯critics on Capitol
   Hill and among press freedom and whistleblower groups.

   In a letter shared by supporters of Pack and said to be his formal
   resignation, Pack described the incoming'¯Biden administration's
   request for his resignation as "a partisan act." Pack added that his
   Senate confirmation had been for a three-year term so as to ensure the
   agency head was "untethered" to changes in administration.

   A change in administrations typically has meant a mass turnover in
   political appointees or other high-ranking officials. Pack's
   resignation came as many other appointees of former President Donald
   Trump resigned as the new administration took office.

     Democrats delayed Michael Pack's confirmation as head of US Agency
     for Global Media. As a result, Pack has been in office eight months
     of a three-year term. The Biden administration fired him in the
     first hour today. Pack's resignation letter:
     [1]pic.twitter.com/tB8yOHMpah
     -- Byron York (@ByronYork) [2]January 20, 2021

   Late Wednesday, the White House announced VOA program director Kelu
   Chao as acting CEO. An agency veteran, Chao has [3]more than 20 years
   of experience at VOA, including as a field reporter, Hong Kong bureau
   chief, Mandarin service chief and East Asia division director. Chao
   last year testified as part of a lawsuit about [4]editorial
   interference by Pack and his aides.

   Chao will inherit several ongoing cases. Those include an investigation
   into alleged mismanagement of the agency ordered in December by the
   Office of Special Counsel.

References

   1. https://t.co/tB8yOHMpah
   2. https://twitter.com/ByronYork/status/1351954651772559362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   3. https://www.insidevoa.com/a/kelu-chao-acting-voa-director/2808961.html
   4. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/20/president-joe-biden-announces-acting-federal-agency-leadership/

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