Trump Takes Axe to Taxpayer-Funded ‘Propaganda Machine’ VOA

In a sweeping move aimed at shrinking federal bureaucracy, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday dismantling Voice of America (VOA), the government-funded media organization that he repeatedly accused of pushing anti-American propaganda.

The directive targets the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA’s parent agency, along with six other federal entities viewed as wasteful by conservatives.

“For too long, Voice of America has operated like a mouthpiece for radical ideas rather than a beacon for freedom,” said a senior White House official, speaking exclusively to Fox News Digital. “American taxpayers shouldn’t fund platforms spreading misinformation that undermines our national interests.”

VOA recently faced intense criticism after reports emerged claiming it sanitized Hamas actions during the Israel-Hamas conflict. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL) spoke bluntly about the controversy, saying, “Let’s get the facts straight: Hamas paraded dead bodies of innocent Israelis—including children—before cheering crowds. American taxpayers shouldn’t pay salaries to those who apologize for terrorists.”

Kari Lake, a Trump ally and former Arizona gubernatorial candidate tapped to lead VOA in December, advised employees via X to urgently “check your email” for crucial updates regarding their future employment.

“The President has issued an Executive Order titled ‘Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,’ directly affecting USAGM and its outlets, including VOA and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting,” Lake wrote.

On Saturday morning, VOA employees received notices confirming the termination of their employment, though exact numbers remain undisclosed.

This isn’t the first time VOA has been accused of bias. In 2020, it drew widespread outrage for an article questioning “White Privilege,” and downplayed revelations concerning Hunter Biden’s laptop controversy during the presidential election.

“I’ve seen firsthand how VOA abandoned journalistic integrity,” said a former VOA employee in a fiery op-ed last year. “It became a rogue agency aligned more closely with leftist ideology than objective reporting. It’s long overdue for shutdown.”

Also targeted in Trump’s latest executive order are the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, 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.

The White House has maintained that cutting these agencies will significantly reduce government waste and ensure taxpayers’ dollars are spent effectively.