Major Workforce Cuts Announced at USAGM

Lake Kali, a senior adviser at the US Global Media Agency (USAGM), has revealed that the organization will reduce its workforce by 1,400 positions, which equates to about 85% of its employees. This drastic move is intended to align with President Donald Trump’s executive order focused on cutting down federal positions.

Lake emphasized that this initiative aims to prioritize American interests and eliminate taxpayer funding for what he described as “bloated, biased, dysfunctional institutions.” This announcement came after notices were sent out to 639 employees, including those at the agency’s main outlet, Voice of America. “We are dismantling decades of government waste and liberal media activities,” he stated.

This workforce reduction is a result of President Trump’s executive order from March 14, 2025, which seeks to maintain a downward trend in federal bureaucracy. The plan approved by senior staff will reduce the agency to a minimum legal workforce of just 81 employees. Post-cuts, USAGM’s total workforce will shrink to 250, including those at Voice of America and Cuban Broadcasting Stations.

In recent months, Lake has also faced challenges such as canceling a $250 million lease for a luxury building on Pennsylvania Avenue, which lacks the necessary broadcasting facilities.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has praised these actions and framed them as a win for accountability. She linked the workforce cuts to earlier surveillance mitigation efforts, noting a March letter that addressed concerns regarding J-1 visa misuse and other issues. “Great job, Kari!” she remarked in her update on X.

Contrary to some media reports, Lake asserted that all 33 staff members of the Cuban Broadcasting Station remain employed, ensuring the agency’s studio in Marathon, Florida continues to provide coverage of news from Cuba.

USAGM has introduced two rounds of an exit program called “Fork in the Road,” providing full benefits, holidays, and options for early retirement through September 30, 2025. So far, 163 employees have accepted this offer.

Next week, Lake is set to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where she will discuss the agency’s history of financial mismanagement and national security lapses.

“We are now operating at a legal minimum, focusing on efficiency,” Lake remarked. “This is how we can address federal missteps and restore accountability. We aim to deliver results for President Trump and the American taxpayers.”