U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an order to drastically reduce the operations and staff of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees government-funded broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
The outlets broadcast in 49 languages providing uncensored news to audiences in countries with limited media freedom.
In an executive order signed Friday, dubbed “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” Trump directed the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and six other agencies to scale back operations and staff to the bare minimum required by law.
It added that the listed entities “shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”
The order further directed agency leaders to submit an implementation plan within seven days.
According to the New York Times, the order could effectively dismantle the USAGM, which was established by Congress to provide independent news coverage in countries where press freedom is restricted.
USAGM has an annual budget of $270 million and employs over 2,000 staff members, the New York Times reported.
In an executive order signed Friday, dubbed “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” Trump directed the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and six other agencies to scale back operations and staff to the bare minimum required by law.
It added that the listed entities “shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”
The order further directed agency leaders to submit an implementation plan within seven days.
According to the New York Times, the order could effectively dismantle the USAGM, which was established by Congress to provide independent news coverage in countries where press freedom is restricted.
USAGM has an annual budget of $270 million and employs over 2,000 staff members, the New York Times reported.
The order follows recent layoffs within USAGM-managed media, reportedly initiated by a team associated with billionaire Elon Musk who has been tasked with reducing federal government spending.
In early March, several VOA journalists, including those in its Ukrainian service, were dismissed. Ostap Yarysh, VOA’s Pentagon correspondent, wrote on Facebook that he was informed of his termination moments before going on air. Reports suggest that this was just the first round of dismissals, with more expected.
The Associated Press and other outlets have reported that Musk-affiliated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials have reviewed journalists’ social media activity for signs of bias. VOA veteran Steve Herman was suspended after sharing a post critical of government efforts to dismantle USAID.
Musk has previously criticized publicly funded media, calling them a waste of money and alleging that they are controlled by “radical leftists.”
In February, the billionaire pushed to dismantle U.S.-backed media outlets Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.
In December, Trump appointed Kari Lake, a former television presenter and Republican candidate known for promoting election conspiracy theories, as the Senior Advisor for US Agency for Global Media. Trump justified the decision by saying her mission was to ensure that “American values of freedom are spread truthfully worldwide, unlike the lies pushed by fake news media.”
Similar cuts previously targeted other U.S. government institutions, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading to significant disruptions in their work.
In early March, several VOA journalists, including those in its Ukrainian service, were dismissed. Ostap Yarysh, VOA’s Pentagon correspondent, wrote on Facebook that he was informed of his termination moments before going on air. Reports suggest that this was just the first round of dismissals, with more expected.
The Associated Press and other outlets have reported that Musk-affiliated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials have reviewed journalists’ social media activity for signs of bias. VOA veteran Steve Herman was suspended after sharing a post critical of government efforts to dismantle USAID.
Musk has previously criticized publicly funded media, calling them a waste of money and alleging that they are controlled by “radical leftists.”
In February, the billionaire pushed to dismantle U.S.-backed media outlets Radio Free Europe and Voice of America.
In December, Trump appointed Kari Lake, a former television presenter and Republican candidate known for promoting election conspiracy theories, as the Senior Advisor for US Agency for Global Media. Trump justified the decision by saying her mission was to ensure that “American values of freedom are spread truthfully worldwide, unlike the lies pushed by fake news media.”
Despite the cuts, USAGM outlets continue to reach an estimated 361 million weekly listeners and viewers worldwide.BREAKING—The President has issued an Executive Order titled Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy. It affects USAGM and its outlets VOA and OCB.
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) March 15, 2025
If you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately for more information. https://t.co/JmKMA0rp54
Similar cuts previously targeted other U.S. government institutions, including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), leading to significant disruptions in their work.
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