The Trump administration has announced plans to cut personnel at the Agency for Global Media, which oversees U.S.-funded international news broadcasts, including Voice of America. Following an executive order signed on Friday, several employees were placed on administrative leave.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump aims to make the government more efficient, claiming taxpayers should not fund what she described as “anti-American propaganda.” An email from the agency’s human resources director, obtained by Reuters and the New York Times, informed employees of their administrative leave, assuring them that it was not for disciplinary reasons.
Employees were instructed to return identification badges and other government property, and they are prohibited from entering agency facilities or systems during their leave. However, they must remain available during business hours for potential contact from agency officials.
While the specific number of employees impacted has not been disclosed, the move has raised questions about the future of the Agency for Global Media. Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency reportedly assisted in identifying the agency for downsizing, as Musk has publicly criticized its operations.
The Agency for Global Media manages all non-military international broadcasting, including Voice of America, which provides news in 50 languages to over 354 million people. Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, VOA has maintained a “firewall” that protects its objective reporting from government interference, per the 1994 U.S. International Broadcasting Act.
Trump’s executive order also outlines reductions for several other federal agencies, including:
- Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
- Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
- Institute of Museum and Library Services
- United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
- Minority Business Development Agency
The ramifications of these cuts and the government’s approach to international broadcasting remain to be seen as the landscape of media and communications continues to evolve.
Credit: USA Today
