Trump slashes funding for agencies supporting media, libraries, homelessness

US President Donald Trump has continued his push for federal budget cuts, this time targeting several key agencies focused on international media, public libraries, and homelessness.

On March 14, the president signed an executive order reducing funding for seven federal agencies: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, US Agency for Global Media, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Institute of Museum and Library Services, US Interagency Council on Homelessness, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In response, the American Library Association issued a statement urging the president to reconsider his "short-sighted decision." The group expressed concern over the elimination of the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, pointing to the importance of programmes like summer reading for children and resources for visually impaired readers. 

According to the White House Fact Sheet, these agencies were deemed "unnecessary" by the Department of Government Efficiency, a federal advisory body led by billionaire Elon Musk. The fact sheet states, "Eliminating these governmental entities will save taxpayer dollars, reduce unnecessary government spending, and streamline government priorities." The agencies affected by the cuts play significant roles across the nation. 

For example, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service offers conflict management services to improve labour-management relations, while the US Agency for Global Media oversees US non-military international broadcasting, reaching over 427 million people in 64 languages. 

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, established in 1968, conducts nonpartisan research and provides advice on global issues. The Institute of Museum and Library Services, founded in 1996, supports museums, libraries, and archives, distributing millions in grants. Other affected agencies, such as the US Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Minority Business Development Agency, support efforts to reduce homelessness and promote minority business growth.

By Naila Huseynova