- The signed regulation may mean disassembling the institution set up by Congress, which has raised concerns for workers and concerns about dismissals
- In February, Elon Musk publically criticized AGM media as left-wing and wasting money, calling for their closure
- Many AGM journalists, including the Ukrainian voice section of America, have already been released and further dismissals are on the way
- For more information, visit the Onetu homepage
A decree signed by Trump published on Friday night on the White home website orders the Global Media Agency (AGM) and six another entities to “limit the performance of their statutory functions and associated staff to the minimum required by law” and their bosses order a plan to implement the regulation within 7 days.
According to the fresh York Times, Trump's decree is another decision that “tests the limits of its powers” due to the fact that it can in practice mean dismantling the institution established by the legislature Act. A akin decision was made earlier by the president against a number of another institutions, including USAID, which resulted in applicable paralysis of her actions.
“I do not know what this decree means”
AGM is liable for the operation and financing of the media paid from the budget to abroad customers, especially in countries where independent media is missing or restricted. Among them are tv and Radio Voice of America (Voice of America, VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Swoboda (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia. According to the NYT, AGM has a budget of 270 million dollars, over 2,000 workers, and the associated channels are broadcasting in 49 languages.
— I don't know what that decree means. I found out about it from abroad media due to the fact that it was published erstwhile I was asleep. No 1 knows what will happen next,” said a writer from 1 of the AGM stations. Another admitted that almost all employees number on losing their jobs at any time.
Another layoff is on the way.
Exemptions in the VOA and another media began on the initiative of the Department for Government Productivity (DOGE) Elona Muska already in early March and included journalists from the Ukrainian Voice section of America. As the Ukrainian VOA correspondent at the Pentagon Ostap Jarysz stated on Facebook, he was informed of his release just before entering the air. At the same time, journalists of the station were given the thought that this was only the first wave of layoffs and would be expected to follow.
Media, including the AP agency, reported that DOGE was reviewing the activity of station staff on social media in search of signs of bias. 1 VOA veteran, Steve Herman, was suspended erstwhile he posted a link on his account to a critical comment about the administration's efforts to dismantle the USAID. The president's emissary for peculiar Missions Richard Grenell then accused him of a "state traitor" and called for his release.
Informal DOGE chief and President's advisor Elon Musk inactive called for the closure of the state-funded media in February, claiming that "no 1 listens to them" and that there are "crazy extremist leftist" working there wasting public money. According to ‘NYT’, AGM media have an average weekly audience of 361 million people.
In December to drive VOA Trump appointed a erstwhile Republican candidate for the legislature and politician of Arizona Kari Lake. It was a tv presenter known for promoting conspiracy theories and promoting narratives about the falsified 2020 election. Trump then claimed that her mission was to “make certain that the American values of freedom are spread globally honestly and truly, unlike lies spread by media fake news”.
