Congressman Cory Mills Introduces the SPIN Act to Stop Domestic Government Propaganda

November 17, 2025

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Cory Mills (FL-07) has introduced the Stopping Propaganda Indoctrination Nationally (SPIN) Act, legislation to amend the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, otherwise known as the Smith-Mundt Act,and reinforce its long-standing prohibition on the domestic dissemination of government-produced media content originally intended for foreign audiences.

Under current law, the U.S. government—through the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—is authorized to create informational and media content for foreign publics as part of its diplomatic and public diplomacy missions. However, loopholes have allowed some of that content to become accessible within the United States, raising concerns about government-funded media being repurposed to influence domestic audiences.

The SPIN Act closes these loopholes by amending Section 501(b) of the 1948 Act to reaffirm that such materials:

• Cannot be disseminated within the United States, its territories, or possessions

• Can only be accessed upon request, in English, by U.S. press outlets, accredited researchers, scholars, and Members of Congress

“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to manipulate the American people through government propaganda,” said Congressman Cory Mills. “The SPIN Act puts an end to such loopholes and ensures the federal government cannot direct foreign messaging campaigns toward domestic audiences—intentionally or unintentionally. This is about transparency, accountability, and trust. The American people deserve to know when messaging is meant for them—and when it’s not. We should never allow tools designed for foreign influence operations to be repurposed to shape domestic opinion.”

The SPIN Act ensures that informational materials produced by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—including content from entities like Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe (RFE)—remain strictly confined to their original foreign audience purpose, as was intended by Congress in 1948.

This restriction was in place for over six decades, until a policy change during the Obama Administration in 2013 effectively lifted the domestic dissemination ban. The SPIN Act restores the original intent of the law.

Issues: Congress