Kari Lake announces mass layoffs at US Agency for Global Media

Trump administration senior advisor Kari Lake on Friday announced mass layoffs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, affecting hundreds of employees.

"USAGM now operates near the statutory minimum; lean and focused. This is a clear example of responsible government—cutting waste, restoring accountability, and delivering on the promise to put American taxpayers first," Lake said.

"Today, we took decisive action to effectuate President Trump's agenda to shrink the out-of-control federal bureaucracy," she added. Lake indicated that USAGM had sent 639 notices to employees, bringing the total workforce reduced to 1,400 since March, marking an 85% drop in staff.

She further indicated that USAGM, Voice of America, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting now employ a total of 250 people.

The reduction in force comes amid mounting scrutiny over the federal government's role in media, leading to efforts to eliminate federal funding for public outlets perceived as biased, such as NPR and PBS.