Trump cuts USAGM funding: Voice of America and Radio Free Europe at risk
The U.S. President signed an executive order to reduce the Global Media Agency, raising concerns about the future of Voice of America and other government-funded channels.
Photo: Library of Congress, Unsplash
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to downsize the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees international broadcasters such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe.
According to the document, USAGM and six other government agencies must minimize functions not mandated by law.
The order emphasizes the need to eliminate "redundant" divisions and personnel. This is expected to significantly cut funding for several media projects.
Trump entrusted the reforms to former TV anchor Kari Lake, appointing her as the head of Voice of America.
Photo: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0
Lake has previously criticized mainstream media for bias against Trump and has vowed to "restore order" at USAGM.
This week, she announced the termination of contracts with Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, calling them "unnecessarily expensive."
Republicans have long expressed dissatisfaction with USAGM policies, accusing the agency of bias and insufficient support for conservative views.
Last month, entrepreneur Elon Musk suggested shutting down Voice of America and Radio Free Europe entirely, calling them a mouthpiece for the Democratic Party.
However, Lake has stated that she does not support a full dismantling of these media platforms.
Earlier reports indicated that labor unions representing U.S. diplomats and USAID employees filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of the agency’s closure and funding freeze.
They claim that USAID’s liquidation has triggered a humanitarian crisis, mass layoffs, and a national security threat, arguing that only Congress has the authority to dismantle the agency.
Despite the legal battle, the State Department has already approved a major staff reduction, which, according to employees, will make the agency’s operations impossible.