In a bold move that’s shaking up Washington, Kari Lake has swung the axe at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), slashing its workforce down to a skeletal crew. This isn’t just a trim—it’s a full-on overhaul aimed at curbing what many conservatives see as government overreach and ideological bias. And let’s be honest, when taxpayers are footing the bill, shouldn’t efficiency be the name of the game?
Under President Trump’s executive order issued on March 14, 2025, titled “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” Lake has spearheaded layoffs at USAGM and its flagship Voice of America, reducing staff to just 250, while also nixing a pricey lease and targeting wasteful spending, Breitbart reported.
This all started with Trump’s directive, which pushed federal agencies to strip down to essential functions and cut staff to the bare legal minimum. Senior career officials at USAGM approved a plan to shrink the agency to just 81 statutory employees. Yet, even with the broader cuts, the remaining workforce across USAGM, Voice of America, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting settled at 250.
Lake didn’t stop at personnel cuts—she also canceled a jaw-dropping $250 million lease for a luxury high-rise on Pennsylvania Avenue that lacked any broadcasting facilities. Talk about a building with a view but no purpose. It’s the kind of fiscal irresponsibility that makes hardworking Americans shake their heads.
Interestingly, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting dodged the chopping block, with all 33 employees staying on board. Their studio in Marathon, Florida, continues to beam news into communist-run Cuba, maintaining a critical mission. Perhaps some functions still align with an America First vision.
“This is about putting America First and cutting off taxpayer funding to a bloated, biased, and dysfunctional agency,” Lake declared. And while progressive critics might cry foul, isn’t it fair to ask why taxpayers should bankroll an operation that’s lost its way? The numbers don’t lie—something had to give.
The layoffs themselves were staggering, with Reduction in Force notices handed to 639 employees at USAGM and Voice of America. That’s not a small dent; it’s a complete restructuring. For many, this is a tough pill to swallow, but unchecked bureaucracy rarely fixes itself.
To ease the transition, USAGM offered two rounds of a “Fork in the Road” exit program, providing full pay through September 30, 2025, along with accrued leave, benefits, and early retirement options. A total of 163 employees took the deal, opting for a softer landing. It’s a gesture of fairness amid a storm of cuts, though it doesn’t erase the sting.
“We are dismantling a decades-old slush fund of government waste and liberal media activism,” Lake stated with characteristic bluntness. If that sounds harsh, consider the alternative: endless funding for an agency that’s drifted from its mission. Sometimes, tough love is the only way to steer the ship back on course.
On the congressional front, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) cheered the move, tweeting, “This is the power of @DOGECommittee oversight.” She’s not wrong—when elected officials shine a light on waste, results can follow. Her support signals a broader conservative push to rein in federal excess.
Greene also noted, “This follows my March letter demanding answers for J-1 visa abuse.” Her point is clear: accountability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a mandate. And when oversight meets action, taxpayers might finally get their money’s worth.
Lake herself added, “The agency now operates near the statutory minimum, lean and focused.” That’s the kind of language conservatives want to hear—government that does less but does it better. Waste isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a common-sense one.
Next week, Lake is set to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about USAGM’s track record of waste, mismanagement, self-dealing, and national security lapses. This isn’t just a victory lap; it’s a chance to lay bare the systemic issues that led to this drastic action. The public deserves those answers.
“This is how you clean up a federal disaster and restore accountability,” Lake asserted proudly. Her words carry weight for those frustrated with government bloat, though critics will surely question if the cuts went too far. Still, isn’t it time we stopped throwing good money after bad?
For now, the dust is settling on a radically reshaped USAGM, with Lake and her allies framing this as a win for efficiency and an America First agenda. Whether this leaner agency can still deliver on its mission remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the days of unchecked spending are over. And in a town like Washington, that’s a refreshing change of pace.
