Trump directs cuts to Voice of America and six other federal agencies

On March 15, 2025, in the United States, President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting seven federal agencies for significant budget reductions. Among these agencies is the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and other government-funded media outlets. The order mandates that these agencies cut their operations down to only those functions required by law. This action represents a continuation of Trump’s broader initiative to downsize government agencies, a move criticized by many as an attempt to suppress public media that provides independent news coverage. The executive order also affects other lesser-known entities focused on areas such as labor mediation, homelessness prevention, and funding for libraries and museums. Trump's history of antagonism toward Voice of America has been marked by public disputes regarding its coverage of his administration. The executive order is seen as part of a campaign to eliminate what he perceives as unnecessary federal bureaucracy, a stance that has won the support of some conservative Republicans who argue that publicly funded media outlets are biased against them. The directive is part of broader cost-cutting measures pursued by Trump and his administration, led in part by tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, which aims to reduce government spending drastically. Questions of legality surrounding this order linger, particularly because the U.S. Agency for Global Media operates as a congressionally-chartered independent agency, thereby raising concerns about presidential overreach. In the wake of the order, employees of the affected agencies are required to outline their plans for compliance within a week, a task made more complex by recent court challenges where federal judges have ruled in favor of retaining certain federal employees who faced termination. As public and political reactions unfold over the coming days, the efficacy and implementation of Trump’s cuts will face scrutiny from both supporters and opponents.