Kari Lake Aims to “Rightsize” Global Media Agency

By Matthew Holloway |

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), under Senior Advisor Kari Lake, is set to terminate over 500 contractor positions by June 30. This decision aligns with ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and sell its Washington, D.C., headquarters, despite facing legal challenges.

Lake emphasized the agency’s commitment to reducing federal bureaucracy. She stated, “In accordance with President Trump’s executive order dated March 14, we are rightsizing the agency to meet administration priorities. We will continue to scale back the bloat at USAGM and make it worthy of funding by hardworking Americans.”

Concerns regarding these layoffs have surfaced, particularly from Voice of America (VOA) Director Michael Abramowitz, who expressed his distress in a statement. He described the decision as “inexplicable,” adding that no rationale has been provided by USAGM. He pledged to support individual employees, especially those returning to countries that may pose risks to their safety.

Lake reported that the layoffs involve 584 employees across various departments, mainly affecting VOA’s language services. If the terminations proceed, many foreign journalists on J-1 visas could encounter 30-day deadlines to exit the U.S., raising fears of exposure to threats in their home countries.

Steve Herman, a VOA correspondent turned spokesperson for the lawsuits against USAGM, noted that J-1 visa holders are among those impacted. He warned that many face severe consequences for their reporting.

As part of cost-saving measures, USAGM has announced a partnership with One America News Network (OAN) to provide news-feed services to its various operations. Lake indicated that this collaboration aims to benefit American taxpayers by reducing expenses associated with news broadcasting.

Lake elaborated on the partnership, explaining that OAN would support the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Martí, and VOA with their news services free of charge. She mentioned that her role does not involve editorial control but aims to ensure reliable reporting options are available.

Efforts to sell the existing VOA headquarters have also been initiated. Lake noted that the current studio, in operation since 1954, has been identified for accelerated disposition, as part of a broader goal to optimize operations and expenditure.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.