Tim Burchett: “I am offering this amendment to withhold funding from the United States Agency for Global Media. This agency has misused…”

“I am offering this amendment to withhold funding from the United States Agency for Global Media. This agency has misused taxpayer money and also failed properly to vet its own staff. I ask you, Mr. Chairman, is the policy of this great Nation to misuse taxpayer money and fail to properly vet its own staff that is allowed to lie on their resumes? Back in January 2021, it was recommended the agency suspend one of its executives, Setareh Sieg, following an investigation regarding her professional behavior. The investigation concluded that Ms. Sieg lied on her resume. She lied. She misused taxpayer dollars for personal expenses and provided lavish contracts for friends. Is this the policy of this country, Mr. Chairman, I ask you? However, just weeks later, and just hours after President Biden was sworn into office, guess what? Ms. Sieg was reinstated to her previous position without loss of pay or seniority. The United States Agency for Global Media should be focused on its mission to inform and engage with people around the world in support of freedom and democracy, not a policy of allowing its employees to lie on their resumes, Mr. Chairman. Instead, they are playing political games and misusing our taxpayer dollars. I recommend we withhold funding until a time when the U.S. Agency for Global Media can prove it is capable of removing employees that have deceitful and irresponsible work histories and is capable of properly vetting its own staff.…”