Sponsors (11)
The bill reduces the risk of taxpayer-funded domestic influence and strengthens congressional/media oversight, but at the cost of restricting modern dissemination tools and limiting access/use of archived materials—potentially weakening U.S. public diplomacy reach and researchers' ability to scrutinize past efforts.
Taxpayers and the general public are protected from U.S. State and USAGM funds being used to influence domestic public opinion (prevents taxpayer-funded domestic propaganda).
Members of Congress and press associations gain the ability to inspect foreign-targeted materials in English at State or USAGM, strengthening congressional oversight and media scrutiny of public diplomacy programs.
Taxpayers, researchers, and historians have foreign-disseminated materials preserved in the National Archives with controlled public access after 20 years, creating a durable official record while limiting potential misuse.
The Department of State and USAGM are restricted from using social media, third-party websites, or podcasts for foreign dissemination, which could sharply reduce the reach and timeliness of U.S. public diplomacy and influence operations abroad.
Researchers, journalists, and the public may face hindered ability to study and scrutinize past public diplomacy because archived materials are view-only after 20 years and cannot be reproduced.
Small media outlets, independent researchers, and members of the public could encounter financial barriers to access due to cost-recovery fees for obtaining archived materials.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Reinstates a domestic ban on dissemination of State/USAGM foreign-targeted materials, requires 20-year archival custody and limits domestic access and platforms.
Official title: To repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 and to prohibit domestic propagandization by the Federal Government.
Introduced October 8, 2025 by Thomas Massie · Last progress October 8, 2025
Reinstates and clarifies a domestic ban on U.S. government-produced foreign information programs being used to influence the U.S. public. It allows the State Department and U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to create and distribute materials to foreign audiences, but limits how those materials can be posted or accessed domestically, requires archival custody with a 20-year closed period, and bars use of funds to influence U.S. public opinion.