Information Report: Review of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Compliance With Executive Order 13950 on Race and Sex Stereotyping

Summary of Review
On September 22, 2020, the White House issued Executive Order (EO) 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, to “promote economy and efficiency in Federal contracting, to promote unity in the Federal workforce, and to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.”¹ Among other requirements, EO 13950 requires the agency head to take certain steps to ensure agency compliance with the EO, including to “issue an order incorporating the requirements of [the EO] into agency operations.”² Accordingly, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to determine whether the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) had taken steps to implement EO 13950 § 6(c).³

In its review, OIG found that USAGM did not take all the necessary steps to comply with EO 13950 § 6(c). Specifically, USAGM’s Chief Executive Officer did not issue an order to incorporate the requirements of the EO by November 21, 2020, into agency operations and did not assign a senior political appointee to oversee the implementation of the EO. Furthermore, USAGM did not formally request that OIG assess USAGM’s implementation of the EO. However, on November 25, 2020, USAGM designated a point of contact to work with OIG on the review. OIG considered this designation to be an implied request from USAGM to review and assess USAGM compliance with the EO. On December 14, 2020, USAGM provided OIG with an update on the steps it was taking to implement EO 13950 § 6(c) requirements. The USAGM point of contact stated that USAGM’s “general policy guide is being developed and will be issued across the enterprise prior to Jan[uary] 15[,] 2021[,] to implement the requirements” and that contracts and grants were “in the process of being updated for compliance.” While OIG acknowledges that USAGM is taking steps to implement the EO, it did not do so within 60 days of the EO’s issuance as required. Based on USAGM’s actions, OIG concludes that USAGM did not comply with the requirements set forth in EO 13950 § 6(c)(i) and § 6(c)(iii). In accordance with EO 13950 § 6(c)(ii), OIG is transmitting a copy of this report to the Office of Management and Budget.

¹_{EO 13950, Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, September 22, 2020.}
²_{EO 13950, September 22, 2020, at § 6(c)(i).}
³ _{Because EO 13950 requires Offices of Inspectors General to complete a review and report findings to the Office of Management and Budget by the end of the calendar year, OIG limited its evaluation during 2020 to USAGM’s compliance with § 6(c) of the EO. OIG’s review during 2021 will be broader in scope and will evaluate USAGM’s compliance with all provisions of the EO.}