Hundreds of staff at U.S.-funded media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, were abruptly placed on administrative leave this weekend. The move followed an executive order by former U.S. President Donald Trump targeting what he called \"unnecessary\" federal agencies. Employees were informed via email to surrender press passes and equipment—a sudden shakeup compared by critics to a \"plot twist no one saw coming.\"
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these outlets and employs 3,500 staff, now faces drastic cuts. Trump ally Kari Lake, nominated to lead VOA, labeled USAGM a \"rot and burden to taxpayers\" and vowed to shrink it to \"minimum size.\" 🎯 Critics argue the decision could silence overseas-focused media, while Republican supporters claim it combats \"left-wing bias.\"
The order aligns with broader efforts by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has already slashed 100,000 federal jobs. But legal challenges loom: Congress, not the president, holds constitutional budget powers. Will this drama get a season finale rewrite? 🍿
