Donald Trump is targeting the Voice of America and other U.S.-funded international broadcasting entities, as he signed an executive order on Friday to eliminate the functions of their oversight agency.
Employees were informed this morning that they were being put on administrative leave with pay, but must be available to work if directed to do so, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times.
Trump’s order calls for the U.S. Agency for Global Media and other entities to “reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.”
In addition to the Voice of America, the U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, among other entities. But Trump’s order may face limitations short of an act of Congress, which has through the years tried to shield the journalistic entities from political influence.
Voice of America is the best known entity among the broadcast entities, operating on a budget of almost $370 million. Trump had selected Kari Lake, a longtime loyalist, to lead the entity, but her appointment must be approved by the seven member International Broadcasting Advisory Board. Instead, Lake has been serving as a special adviser, and she has attacked the VOA. In a message on X following Trump’s executive order, she wrote, “If you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately for more information.”
In his first term, Trump targeted the Voice of America, raising fears that he would attempt to use the broadcast entity as his own personal propaganda engine. He selected Michael Pack, a documentary filmmaker, to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media. His tenure was tumultuous, as he fired the leaders of some of the broadcast entities and installed Trump loyalists. A 1994 international broadcasting law “prohibits interference by any U.S. government official in the objective, independent reporting of news,” per the VOA.
This term, Trump has nominated E. Brent Bozell, a longtime conservative activist, to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, but he still faces Senate confirmation.
