Hello, America. Imagine spending nearly a quarter of a billion dollars on leasing an office when a perfectly good, already-paid-for building is available. That’s exactly what happened at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). As a Senior Advisor at the agency, I’ve been here for only a few weeks, and what I’ve uncovered is truly alarming. The previous administration locked the agency into a 15-year lease for a brand-new, extravagant skyscraper in Washington, D.C.—a decision made just before they left office. This move wasn’t out of necessity but rather an unnecessary expense that places a massive financial burden on hardworking taxpayers.
Let’s talk about what’s inside this luxurious office space. The building is filled with high-end features that seem more fitting for a five-star hotel than a government agency. There are at least 26 conference rooms, each boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, along with four elaborate “bridges to nowhere.” Expensive waterfalls, Italian marble surfaces, and plush leather furniture are scattered throughout. While government agencies should have functional workspaces, this level of extravagance is far beyond what’s necessary—especially when taxpayers are footing the bill. Meanwhile, the agency already had an existing, debt-free building that could have been renovated for a fraction of the cost.
But the waste doesn’t stop there. As we dig deeper, we’re finding even more troubling financial decisions. Grants that were awarded have been quietly altered just days before the new administration took over, making it more difficult to track how the funds are being used. These last-minute changes seem intentional—an attempt to keep spending under wraps and limit transparency. Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going, and yet, layers of bureaucracy have been put in place to make that nearly impossible.
Rest assured, we are not sitting idly by. My team and I are committed to reversing as much of this wasteful spending as possible. We are actively identifying contracts that can be canceled, reducing unnecessary expenses, and working to ensure every dollar is spent wisely. The American people work too hard for their money to see it squandered on luxury office spaces and opaque financial dealings. Accountability and efficiency must take priority, and that is exactly what we intend to deliver.
Washington, D.C., should be a place of responsible governance, not a hub for reckless spending. The mission is clear: eliminate waste, cut costs, and restore integrity to government financial management. Taxpayers deserve better, and we won’t stop until real change is made.