President Donald Trump issued an executive order to dismantle the U.S. government-funded media outlet known for its international broadcasts, which he has frequently criticized for biased reporting.
A senior White House official stated, “This media outlet has long been out of touch with the American public. It has served as a platform for radical ideologies, promoting divisive and biased content for years.”
The executive order, signed on Friday, mandates the closure of seven government offices, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization of the media outlet in question and other similar entities.
The order further stated that “non-essential components and functions of the following agencies shall be eliminated to the extent allowed by law, and their statutory roles and personnel shall be reduced to the minimum required by law.”
Kari Lake, whom Trump had appointed to lead the agency in December, is currently serving as senior advisor at USAGM. She informed employees via a message to “check your email” for further details about their employment status.
She shared the update, saying, “The President has issued an Executive Order titled Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy. It affects USAGM and its affiliates. Employees are advised to check their email for more information.”
On Saturday, employees received emails notifying them of terminations, though the total number of affected staff members remains unclear.
In a statement released by USAGM and Lake, the agency was described as “beyond repair.” The statement read, “This organization is a massive burden on taxpayers, a national security risk, and fundamentally flawed. Although there are a few dedicated personnel, they are the exception, not the rule.”
The executive order targeted several agencies, including USAGM, 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.
The agency has faced criticism over the years for its perceived bias, particularly for its reporting on global conflicts. In one incident, it was accused of downplaying the actions of a terrorist organization by failing to report on the public celebrations in Gaza when the group paraded the coffins of Israeli hostages. Additionally, it came under scrutiny in 2023 for instructing staff to avoid labeling members of the group as terrorists, except when quoting others. It has also been criticized for controversial stories on topics such as “white privilege” and for its coverage of the 2020 election, including a piece that downplayed the Hunter Biden laptop story.
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