The Trump administration has initiated a sweeping reduction of operations within the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the body responsible for overseeing Radio and TV Martí, Voice of America, and other government-funded media outlets. This action follows an executive order signed by Donald Trump on March 14, 2025, titled "Continuing the Reduction of Federal Bureaucracy," aimed at drastically downsizing federal agency structures.
In alignment with this directive, the USAGM has begun dismantling non-statutory components and functions, trimming its workforce to the legally mandated minimum. As a result, a significant portion of the staff, including its subsidiaries, has been placed on paid administrative leave since last Saturday, with operations for Radio and TV Martí and other media outlets suspended following the announcement of Trump's order.
Kari Lake, a senior advisor to USAGM appointed by Trump, highlighted the agency's rampant resource wastage, fraud, and abuse, describing it as "beyond repair" and asserting that the restructuring is a win for American taxpayers. "As long as I'm at USAGM, I am committed to fully implementing President Trump's executive orders in his mission to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. Today, we continue that process, aligning our operations with what the law demands," Lake stated.
The United States Agency for Global Media will continue executing only the statutory programs under its mandate, eliminating anything not outlined in the law," she reiterated. Additionally, she stressed, "I fully support the president's executive order. Waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant in this agency, and American taxpayers shouldn't have to fund it."
Just over a week ago, the government efficiency team led by Elon Musk, known as DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), sparked significant controversy by listing the lease for the Radio and TV Martí headquarters in Miami among the supposedly "terminated" agreements. The lease cancellation for the Jorge Mas Canosa building, home to Radio and TV Martí, was projected to save $5.32 million, as reported by the DOGE portal at the time.
Below, we reproduce the full statement released this Saturday by the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
Today, in compliance with President Trump's Executive Order titled "Continuing the Reduction of Federal Bureaucracy," dated March 14, 2025, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) initiated measures to eliminate non-statutory components and functions to the fullest extent within the applicable legal framework. USAGM and the media it oversees will be reduced to their statutory functions, and associated personnel will be minimized to the legally required minimum.
This action will impact the agency's workforce, including USAGM, Voice of America, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), and all its affiliates. Most affected personnel will be placed on administrative leave with pay starting Saturday, March 15, 2025, and will remain in that status until further notice.
"As long as I'm at USAGM, I am committed to fully implementing President Trump's executive orders in his mission to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. Today, we continue that process, aligning our operations with what the law demands," declared Kari Lake, USAGM's senior advisor.
"The United States Agency for Global Media will continue executing only the statutory programs under its mandate and will eliminate anything not outlined in the law. I fully support the president's executive order. Waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant in this agency, and American taxpayers shouldn't have to fund it."
Some of the most severe irregularities detected include:
- Massive national security breaches, with spies and terrorist sympathizers infiltrating the agency.
- Self-dealing and corruption in awarding contracts, grants, and multi-million dollar settlement agreements.
- Excessive spending, including a lease for nearly a quarter of a billion dollars for a skyscraper on Pennsylvania Avenue without transmission facilities to meet the agency's needs, which also included a $9 million commission to a politically connected real estate agent.
- Hundreds of millions of dollars spent on fake news companies whose content replicates the narratives of US adversaries.
"This agency is beyond redemption." From top to bottom, USAGM is a corrupt system, a burden on taxpayers, a national security risk, and irreparably broken. While there are exceptions with talented and dedicated employees, these are the minority in an environment dominated by incompetence and corruption.
It is regrettable that lobbying groups, left-wing activists, and internal officials have shielded the agency from any form of reform, ensuring it was "Trump-proof," which in reality meant making it immune to accountability to the American people.
All this while squandering taxpayer money to fabricate false narratives, amplified by allied media like The Washington Post, NPR, and others, with evident conflicts of interest, to cover up their corruption.
"This is a significant step in restoring America's greatness and promoting freedom and democracy," added Kari Lake. "From now on, accountability will be the norm and not the exception. I appreciate the work of the true public servants who have contributed to the agency, and I look forward to advancing our mission of telling America's story to the world in a meaningful, impactful, and effective way."
Key Questions about USAGM's Restructuring
What prompted the restructuring of USAGM?
The restructuring was prompted by an executive order from President Trump aimed at reducing the size and scope of federal agencies, including USAGM.
How will the restructuring affect USAGM's operations?
USAGM will focus solely on its statutory functions, reducing its workforce to the legal minimum and placing many employees on administrative leave.
What are the allegations of waste and corruption within USAGM?
Allegations include wasteful spending, corruption in contract awards, and infiltration by spies and terrorist sympathizers.