Washington, D.C. – June 20, 2025
In a sweeping move aligned with President Donald J. Trump’s March 14, 2025 Executive Order titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has reduced its workforce by 85%, eliminating 1,400 positions in a bold effort to streamline government operations and eliminate waste.
Senior Advisor to USAGM, Kari Lake, confirmed the action, calling it a “decisive step” to implement President Trump’s vision of a leaner, more accountable federal government.
“Today, we took decisive action to effectuate President Trump’s agenda to shrink the out-of-control federal bureaucracy,” said Lake. “For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to bankroll an agency that’s been riddled with dysfunction, bias, and waste. That ends now.”
As part of the reorganization, Reduction in Force (RIF) Termination Notices were sent to 639 employees at USAGM and Voice of America. The agency’s total staff has now been cut to just 250 employees, including those at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), which transmits news into Cuba from its Marathon, Florida studio. OCB’s 33 employees remain unaffected.
The restructuring aligns USAGM with its statutory minimum, a plan approved by senior federal career officials. Only 81 positions are mandated to continue, focusing on the agency’s core legal functions.
In addition to personnel cuts, Lake canceled a $250 million lease for a luxury high-rise on Pennsylvania Avenue, a costly project initiated under the previous administration. The building lacked media broadcasting capabilities and was seen as emblematic of government excess.
Since February, USAGM has extended two rounds of its “Fork in the Road” program, offering employees full pay through September 30, 2025, in addition to accrued leave, benefits, and early retirement. 163 employees accepted the offer.
Lake is expected to testify next week before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she will outline years of waste, mismanagement, self-dealing, and national security concerns associated with USAGM operations.
“The agency now operates near the statutory minimum; lean and focused,” Lake stated. “This is a clear example of responsible government—cutting waste, restoring accountability, and delivering on the promise to put American taxpayers first.”
Lake concluded by emphasizing her commitment to working with Congress and the State Department to modernize U.S. public diplomacy efforts in line with American values and foreign policy goals.
