The head of a US agency has confirmed that positions will be eliminated across various state-funded media organizations in Washington.
US President Donald Trump has mandated the reduction of over 500 roles at government-funded media entities, as part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to curtail what it perceives as excessive or politically biased public expenditure.
The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), responsible for overseeing state-funded broadcasters like Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and operating with an approximate budget of $882 million in 2024, announced on Friday the elimination of 532 positions.
Acting chief executive Kari Lake stated that this action is intended to “help reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service, and save the American people more of their hard-earned money.”
While Lake did not specify which departments would be most impacted, she affirmed that the agency would “improve its ability to function and provide the truth to people across the world who live under murderous Communist governments and other tyrannical regimes.”
Previously, in June, USAGM had issued layoff notices to over 600 staff members. VOA director Michael Abramowitz was placed on administrative leave and subsequently terminated. During associated legal proceedings, it was revealed that 486 of the employees targeted under the “reduction-in-forces” initiative were VOA personnel.
Just last week, US District Judge Royce Lamberth determined that the administration had failed to adhere to correct procedures when dismissing Abramowitz.
Established in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda, VOA subsequently served as a Cold War informational instrument under the CIA. Trump has characterized its present form as a “leftwing disaster” and “Democrat mouthpiece,” and in June urged Republicans to “kill” the organization.
Russia rescinded VOA’s radio license in 2014 and imposed a complete ban on the broadcaster in 2022, citing partisan reporting on the Ukraine conflict.