The Biden administration is cleaning house and getting rid of pro-Trump appointees by looking for resignations by the partisans or by firing them if they don’t comply.

Michael Pack, a conservative filmmaker and former associate of Steven Bannon, the erstwhile political strategist of the former president Trump, had been appointed to the position of Chief of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for three years, a post created by Congress.

He had fired the boards of all the outlets under his control and was slowly turning the broadcasters such as Voice of America (VOA) and its sister concerns into pro-Trump propaganda machines.

The Voice of America or VOA as it is referred to internationally is one of the oldest independent public international broadcasters and was founded during the Second World War. It is required to present independent news and information internationally as per its congressional charter. It is funded by the federal government using taxpayer funds.

Since Pack’s post was not limited by the length of a particular administration Pack had no need to resign after Biden became President. The Biden administration swiftly removed him from his post on inauguration day.

The White House has appointed Kelu Chao, as the agency’s interim chief on Wednesday. Chao has over three decades of experience with VOA and has been a veteran journalist. Pack had been asked to resign according to anonymous sources as he faced internal revolts and growing calls for his resignation. Chao did not respond when asked for comments.

Some of Pack’s other appointees were fired on Thursday and Friday. The acting CEO Chao is said to have fired Middle East Broadcasting Network Director Victoria Coates. Both Radio Free Asia and Europe’s heads Stephen Yates and Ted Lipien had also been fired by late Friday after they were given these appointments just over a month ago.

Photo: Voa News