U.S. Agency for Global Media Suspends Official after Claim He Called White People ‘Snow Roaches’

The federal agency that oversees Voice of America and other U.S.-funded international media outlets suspended a member of its executive team following allegations that he referred to white people as “snow roaches” in several social-media posts.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media told National Review that the executive had been placed on paid administrative leave today, pursuant to federal law. It did not specify the legal requirements with which it was complying.

The claims against the official in question, USAGM chief information officer and IT director James Reeves, one of the agency’s top officials, initially surfaced on a right-wing page on X called “End Wokeness.” It posted screenshots from a social-media account whose owner repeatedly used the phrase “snow roaches” in its posts: “Last I checked it’s the snow roaches that are mad about immigrants,” this person had written in February.

National Review could not independently corroborate the identity of the owner of the account, who blocked an NR reporter last week after being asked for a comment. The name associated with the account is “J.R.” On Friday, Representative Mike Collins called on the House Foreign Affairs Committee to investigate the situation.