President Trump on Friday signed an executive order that aims to eliminate seven federal agencies, including ones that focus on media, libraries, museums and ending homelessness.
The president directed the government entities “be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law,” insisting they “reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel.” It ordered the heads of each entity submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget confirming full compliance within seven days.
The president targeted the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the parent company of Voice of America’s (VOA), as well as the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, which is a think tank, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is an agency that supports libraries, archives and museums in every state.
He also dismantled the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, which aims to prevent and end homelessness in the U.S., the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which focuses on preventing, minimizing, and resolving work stoppages and labor disputes, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which aims to expand economic opportunity for underserved communities, and the Minority Business Development Agency, which promotes growth of minority-owned businesses.
Amid questions over the future of VOA, Trump had picked former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake to lead the outlet. The Trump ally said at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month the international state media broadcaster won’t be “Trump TV” under her watch.
While the president doesn’t directly appoint the head of VOA, Trump had nominated conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which would make the decision. Bozell needs to be confirmed by the Senate to take his post and then could select Lake.
The Trump administration has been focused on an overhaul of the federal government, with tech billionaire Elon Musk tasked with finding ways to cut spending and workers. That work has been met with challenges in the courts— federal judges in both Maryland and Northern California district courts issued orders Thursday halting the mass dismissals.
The White House on Friday vowed to appeal the federal court rulings, which have required the Trump administration to reinstate probationary government employees.