Summary

An analysis was undertaken of the recommendations made by the Panel on International Information, Education, and Cultural Relations for changing the administration of public diplomacy. Present operations are primarily under the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Information Agency (USIA).

The Panel proposed reassignment of the USIA policy functions to the Department of State . GAO believes that these functions cannot be separated from other information functions and should be retained by USIA. The Panel also proposed formation of a new autonomous agency to replace USIA and consolidate domestic and overseas cultural functions. GAO believes that this would lead to more efficient administration. The Panel recommended that the Voice of America be made an independent agency to give it greater credibility. GAO does not find evidence of lack of credibility and believes the present relationship between the Voice of America, USIA, and State should be preserved and efforts should be made to improve the relationships.