Politics
WATCH: Kari Lake Exposes Millions In Wasteful Spending At Taxpayer-Funded Media Agency
President Trump on Friday signed an executive order that aims to eliminate seven federal agencies, including multiple taxpayer-funded media outlets that have injected partisan politics into their supposedly non-biased coverage in recent years such as Voice of America (VOA).
VOA was founded during World War II, and its congressional charter requires it to present independent news and information to international audiences.
The supposedly neutral broadcaster generated controversy in 2020 by publishing numerous stories that painted the Trump Administration in an unfavorable, leading to criticism from Trump, who accused VOA staffers of saying “nasty things about out country.”
“Voice of America has been out of step with America for years. It serves as the Voice for Radical America and has pushed divisive propaganda for years now,” a senior White House official told Fox News after the decision to slash funding was announced.
Trump signed an executive order on Friday ordering the dismantling of seven federal agencies and offices, including the United States Agency for Global Media, which is the parent company of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
“The non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law,” the president’s executive order reads.
Kari Lake was nominated to head up the VOA shortly after Trump’s election victory
Photo: Gage Skidmore
Kari Lake, who was nominated to head up the taxpayer-funded media entities shortly after Trump’s presidential election victory, took to X to list a number of the wasteful spending she has uncovered within the United States Agency for Global Media.
“I’m horrified by some of the things I’m learning about this agency. I’m sitting here on the 13th floor of a shiny, brand-new, beautiful skyscraper building that is costing you, the taxpayer, a fortune,” Lake said in a video statement. “The Biden administration folks who were running this agency before, right before they left office, signed a brand new lease for this building, a 15 year lease that’s going to cost the taxpayer nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.”
The two-time Republican candidate went on to explain that the agency already had a perfectly good building before the massive, $250 million upgrade was made. “They already have a building that they’re located in that is paid off, that they could have renovated or updated, but they chose instead to get us into a lease that’s costing the taxpayer a fortune. I know that every one of you out there is working hard and parting with your tax dollars. You’re expecting it to be used wisely, not misused and mismanaged,” Lake added, further describing the project as a “colossal waste of money.”
The building was complete with Italian marble finishes, high-end leather furniture, 26 conference rooms, waterfalls and “bridges to nowhere.”
“I’m working to make sure that we are not being bilked out of our hard-earned dollars. And we’re going to make sure we’re doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be canceled, save money, downsize, and make sure there’s no misuse of your dollars” Lake said.
As part of the moves to dismantle the agencies, the administration announced that massive layoffs would be occurring. Several employees received an email on Saturday informing them that their employment was terminated, though it is unclear exactly how many employees were affected, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The seven government agencies targeted in the order include: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; the U.S. Agency for Global Media; the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution; the Institute of Museum and Library Services; the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness; the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund; and the Minority Business Development Agency.
President Trump directed the agencies to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” insisting they “reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel.”
Affected department heads were instructed to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance within seven days.
