The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency for Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, is cancelling its 15-year lease on its Washington, DC-based headquarters as the Trump administration plans to eliminate the agency.
In a statement, the USAGM cited what it described as “obscene over-spending including a nearly quarter-of-a-billion-dollar lease for a Pennsylvania Avenue high-rise that has no broadcasting facilities to meet the needs of the agency and included a $9 million commission to a private real estate agent with connections.” USAGM Senior Adviser Kari Lake said the agency’s lease – which was signed last September at 1875 Pennsylvania Avenue NW – fell under the wasteful spending that the Trump administration is seeking to cut.
“While at USAGM, I vow to fully implement President Trump’s executive orders in his mission to reduce the size and scope of the federal government,” Lake said. “Today we continue the process of doing that by streamlining our operations to what is statutorily required by law.”
Lake added, “The US Agency for Global media will continue to deliver on all statutory programs that fall under the agency’s purview and shed everything that is not statutorily required. I fully support the President’s executive order. Waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant in this agency and American taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund it.”
Most of the USAGM’s 1,300-member workforce has reportedly been placed on paid administrative leave beginning on March 15.
Photo courtesy USAGM
