On March 14, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the dismantling of seven federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and other government-funded media outlets. The order directs agency heads to eliminate non-statutory functions and reduce personnel to the minimum required by law.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media, which also funds Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, operates with a $270 million budget and broadcasts in 49 languages to an audience of over 361 million people weekly. Despite its mission to provide unbiased news, the agency has faced criticism from Mr. Trump since his first term. He recently appointed Kari Lake, a loyalist, as a special adviser.
Other agencies targeted include 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. These entities address issues ranging from labor disputes to homelessness prevention and minority business support.
The order, part of Mr. Trump’s broader effort to shrink the federal government, has raised questions about the limits of presidential authority. Congress had previously passed laws to limit executive power over some of these agencies.
Billionaire Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency, has supported these efforts, claiming billions in taxpayer savings. However, some of these claims have been undermined by errors in reported data. Federal judges have also blocked some initiatives, including reinstating thousands of federal employees fired earlier this year.
The agencies have seven days to submit compliance plans to Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget. The move reflects Mr. Trump’s ongoing push to reshape the federal government.