Key Takeaways
- •Sarah B. Rogers (Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State) announced a new strategic plan focusing on sovereignty and security while defending military operations against Iran.
- •Rogers testified that the State Department is prioritizing freedom of expression and eliminating taxpayer funding for "radical ideological projects" like international drag shows and transgender-themed operas.
- •Rep. Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5) challenged Rogers on the administration's failure to coordinate public diplomacy or evacuation plans for American citizens before launching military strikes against Iran.
- •Rep. Bill Huizenga (R, MI-4) praised the elimination of "wasteful" ideological grants, while Rep. Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) condemned the administration for bypassing Congress to start a war.
- •Congress aims to finalize the authorization of an Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications to better counter Chinese and Russian propaganda while maintaining First Amendment protections.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on March 5, 2026, to examine the strategic direction of U.S. public diplomacy under the leadership of Sarah B. Rogers, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy. The hearing focused on aligning the State Department’s communication efforts with the "America First" agenda, implementing mandates from the NDAA 2026, and addressing the role of public diplomacy during the ongoing military operations in Iran, referred to as "Operation Epic Fury." Chairman Brian Mast (R, FL-21) and Representative Bill Huizenga (R, MI-4) opened the session by emphasizing the need to counter the "censorship industrial complex" and redirect taxpayer funds away from ideologically driven projects toward programs that promote American values of liberty and free markets.
Key Testimony
Under Secretary Rogers testified that her primary mission is to restore freedom of expression as a central pillar of U.S. foreign policy. She criticized the previous administration’s use of the Global Engagement Center (GEC) to allegedly facilitate the censorship of American citizens through partnerships with social media companies and non-governmental organizations. Rogers outlined a forthcoming "Public Diplomacy Strategic Plan" that prioritizes national sovereignty and economic renewal. She highlighted the use of "soft power" tools, including sports diplomacy through partnerships with the NFL and preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Rogers also defended the administration’s actions in Iran, stating that her office is focused on ensuring the safety of American exchange participants and using digital platforms like "USAbafarsi" to communicate directly with the Iranian people.
Policy Proposals
Policy discussions centered on the proposed elevation of the Bureau of Global Public Affairs (GPA) into a "Strategic Communications Hub" led by an Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications. This reorganization aims to centralize messaging to more effectively counter propaganda from the People's Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and Iran. Representative Keith Self (R, TX-3) and Under Secretary Rogers discussed legislative proposals to amend the SPEECH Act of 2010. The goal is to shield American citizens and tech companies from extraterritorial enforcement of foreign censorship laws, such as the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act. Rogers also mentioned the development of "freedom.gov," a new digital initiative to promote democratic values globally.
Overview
The hearing featured sharp partisan disagreements regarding the administration’s broader foreign policy. Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D, NY-5) and Representative Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) criticized the administration for engaging in a "war of choice" in Iran without Article I congressional authorization. They raised concerns about the deaths of six American service members and the lack of a clear diplomatic exit strategy. Democrats also accused the administration of sabotaging public diplomacy by cutting funding for established exchange programs. Representative Gabe Amo (D, RI-1) and Representative Ami Bera (D, CA-6) questioned delays in distributing funds for the Fulbright Program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), noting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had allegedly stalled these congressionally appropriated funds.
Key Testimony
Several organizations were highlighted during the testimony. The U.S. Department of State was the primary focus as it undergoes structural changes to its public diplomacy bureaus. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) faced scrutiny, with Democrats criticizing Deputy CEO Carrie Lake for allegedly gutting Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Farda’s Persian services. X Corp. was frequently referenced as a target of European regulatory pressure, with Rogers praising the platform’s resistance to foreign censorship. Rep. Mast identified Code Pink as a vector for Chinese influence, submitting evidence of the group's alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Other entities mentioned included the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which manages exchange programs, and the Global Engagement Center (GEC), which Republicans seek to fundamentally reform.
Overview
Notable exchanges included a confrontation between Ranking Member Meeks and Under Secretary Rogers over the State Department’s crisis planning for Americans in Iran. Meeks accused Rogers of "filibustering" to avoid admitting a lack of coordination with the military. Representative Brad Sherman (D, CA-32) challenged the administration’s decision to maintain broadcasting in stable European nations like Greece while cutting services in critical regions like Southern Pakistan. Representative Young Kim (R, CA-40) focused on the need to break information barriers in North Korea, urging the administration to expand VOA’s Korean language services.
Key Testimony
In terms of next steps, Under Secretary Rogers committed to providing the committee with a detailed report on the status of FY 2026 grant distributions for educational and cultural exchanges. Representative Bera noted that the committee would soon mark up H.R. 6428, a bill requiring the State Department to inventory and counter PRC influence operations. Rogers also pledged to provide further briefings on the administration’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify and counter foreign malign influence.
Transcript
Good morning everybody. The purpose of today's hearing is to understand the vision and direction that new Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy has for implementing the public diplomacy policies and directives from the Trump administration and Congress in NDAA 2026 and the role public diplomacy plays in supporting national security. I now recognize chairman of the subcommittee on South and Central Asia, Representative Huizenga for an opening statement.
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