US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order ordering the liquidation of seven federal agencies, including the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees media outlets such as Radio Liberty and Voice of America, which are listed as foreign agents in Russia. The document, published on March 14, 2025, on the White House website, is part of a large-scale campaign to reduce federal bureaucracy that began during Trump's second term. The text of the executive order emphasizes the need to minimize the activities of agencies, eliminate all functions not provided for by law, and reduce staffing levels to the minimum permissible level. The heads of agencies are required to submit reports to the White House Budget Office on compliance with these requirements by March 21.

In addition to USAGM, the order covers entities involved in a variety of areas, from resolving labor disputes to supporting museums and libraries. In particular, the list includes the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, known for its research in international politics, as well as agencies responsible for helping the homeless and economic development programs. According to the Trump administration, such measures will significantly reduce government spending and improve governance efficiency.

USAGM, with a budget of about $950 million in 2025, operates media outlets broadcasting in 63 languages ​​and reaching an audience of 420 million people weekly. However, Trump criticized the agency for its independent editorial policy during his first term, considering it insufficiently loyal. In February 2025, the head of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), Elon Musk, called the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe “obsolete,” proposing to shut them down to save taxpayers a billion dollars. The appointment of Kari Lake, a Trump supporter, as a special adviser to USAGM that same month fueled rumors of an intention to reshape the media to suit the administration’s interests.