In a sweeping move aimed at reshaping the federal government, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday that targets the elimination of seven federal agencies. This order focuses on entities involved in media, libraries, museums, and efforts to end homelessness.
The president’s directive emphasizes that these agencies should be dismantled “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” and calls for a significant reduction in their operational functions and personnel. Each agency’s head is required to submit a compliance report to the Office of Management and Budget within seven days.
Among the agencies affected is the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees the Voice of America (VOA). The order also includes the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a prominent think tank within the Smithsonian Institution, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which supports libraries and museums across the nation.
Other agencies targeted for dissolution include the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which deals with labor disputes, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund aimed at enhancing economic opportunities for underserved communities, and the Minority Business Development Agency that fosters the growth of minority-owned businesses.
In a related development, President Trump has chosen Kari Lake, a former gubernatorial and Senate candidate from Arizona, to lead the Voice of America. Lake, a known ally of Trump, assured at the Conservative Political Action Conference that the agency would not become “Trump TV” under her leadership.
While Trump does not directly appoint the head of VOA, he has nominated conservative figure L. Brent Bozell III to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, a decision pending Senate confirmation. Following this, Bozell could appoint Lake to oversee VOA.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media also manages Radio Free Asia, a platform that provides news and information to audiences in Asia, aimed at countering Chinese propaganda.
This initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to reorganize the federal government, with tech billionaire Elon Musk involved in identifying potential cuts to spending and workforce. However, recent court rulings in Maryland and Northern California have halted mass layoffs, prompting the administration to plan an appeal and reinstate affected probationary employees.
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