Trump signs order to gut Voice of America, other agencies

On March 15, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating significant reductions in operations across seven U.S. government agencies, notably targeting the Voice of America (VOA) and its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This directive requires these entities to scale back their functions to the bare minimum mandated by law.

The VOA, established during World War II, has historically served as a cornerstone of U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting news and American perspectives to international audiences. Under the new order, the agency faces a substantial curtailment of its activities, raising concerns about its ability to fulfill its mission of promoting democratic values abroad.

In a move aligned with this restructuring, President Trump appointed Kari Lake, a former news anchor and known immigration hard-liner, as the new director of VOA. Lake's appointment has sparked debate due to her controversial statements and alignment with the administration's ideological stance.

One of her initial actions includes terminating VOA's contracts with major wire services such as The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, a decision she claims will save $53 million. Lake emphasized that with VOA's nearly billion-dollar budget, producing news internally is feasible without relying on external organizations.

Beyond VOA, the executive order affects several other federal entities, including the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency. This broad mandate reflects the administration's ongoing efforts to overhaul federal bureaucracy, a campaign bolstered by the Department of Government Efficiency led by Elon Musk. These initiatives have resulted in significant job cuts and program cancellations within the federal workforce.

Critics argue that these measures undermine the foundational principles of agencies like VOA, potentially compromising their journalistic independence and credibility. Supporters, however, contend that the reforms are necessary to eliminate inefficiencies and realign these institutions with current governmental priorities.

As the administration proceeds with these changes, the future of U.S. international broadcasting and the broader implications for public diplomacy remain subjects of intense debate.