Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
WEKU
WEKU
David Folkenflik

Federal inquiry details abuses of power by Trump's CEO over Voice of America

A federal investigation found former U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Michael Pack (at right) repeatedly engaged in abuses of power and gross mismanagement. Pack, shown last year at a party with conservative politician and publisher Steve Forbes, sought to stamp out all hints of anti-Trump sentiment at the agency, the Voice of America, and other networks funded by the federal government. (Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)

On the day after his confirmation as chief executive of the U.S. Agency for Global Media in June 2020, Michael Pack met with a career employee to discuss which senior leaders at the agency and the Voice of America should be forced out due to their perceived political beliefs.

"Hates Republicans," the employee had written about one in a memo. "Openly despises Trump and Republicans," they said of another. A third, the employee wrote, "is not on the Trump team." The list went on. (Firing someone over political affiliation is typically a violation of federal civil service law.)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.