In a controversial move triggered by an executive order last Friday, significant changes are sweeping through U.S. publicly funded media. Hundreds of staffers at Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, and related outlets were told to surrender press passes and equipment as they were barred from their offices, according to local media reports.
The cuts come on the heels of an order that labeled the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) as part of an unnecessary federal bureaucracy. USAGM, which oversees about 3,500 employees and manages an $886 million budget for 2024, has seen over 1,300 VOA employees being placed on administrative leave as part of these sweeping changes.
Kari Lake, a former news anchor and Trump ally nominated for the VOA director role, issued a blunt statement describing USAGM as "a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer." Lake asserted that the agency is "not salvageable" and vowed to shrink its size to the legal minimum.
While some Republicans have accused publicly funded media outlets of bias against conservatives, the broader initiative is part of a series of efforts by tech billionaire Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to streamline federal operations. DOGE has already cut more than 100,000 jobs from the 2.3 million-member federal workforce, frozen foreign aid, and cancelled thousands of programs and contracts.
Critics note that the executive order, which also targets several other federal institutions, could face challenges since Congress holds the constitutional power over federal budgeting. As the debate unfolds, questions arise over the future of U.S. global media and the balance between government oversight and media independence in an increasingly complex political landscape.
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VOA staff put on leave, Trump ally says agency 'not salvageable'
cgtn.com
