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North American Edition
17th March 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Trump moves to close down Voice of America
President Trump has signed an order to strip back federally funded news organization Voice of America (VOA). A White House statement said the order would "ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda." VOA, which is still primarily a radio service, says it currently reaches hundreds of millions of people globally each week. The president's order targets VOA's parent company U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). It tells managers to "reduce performance . . . to the minimum presence and function required by law." VOA employees were reportedly notified in an email by Crystal Thomas, the USAGM human resources director. Mike Abramowitz, VOA's director, said he and virtually his entire staff of 1,300 people had been put on paid leave. Abramowitz said that the order left VOA unable to carry out its "vital mission . . . especially critical today, when America's adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States."
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
U.S. businesses shun diversity references in annual reports
More than 200 of America’s largest corporate groups have culled mentions of DEI and related terms such as “diversity,” according to data and company filings analysed by the Financial Times. Writing for Bloomberg Law, Buchalter’s Joshua Robbins says President Trump’s executive order to curtail federal DEI programs is an “ambitious gambit” that could prompt legal challenges, and organizations should thoroughly document compliance analysis.
Kohl's restructures DEI framework
In response to President Donald Trump's initiative to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in both the federal government and private sector, Kohl's has restructured its DEI framework to emphasize "inclusion and belonging." Michelle Banks, Kohl's DEI chief since 2021, now holds the title of Chief Inclusion and Belonging Officer. The company has also broadened its supplier diversity program to incorporate more qualified small businesses, including those that are diverse. This aligns with Kohl's 2022 commitment to triple spending with diverse suppliers by 2025 and invest over $20m in diverse communities. Additionally, Kohl's has updated its public messaging, replacing "DEI" references with "inclusion and belonging" on its website.
WORKFORCE
IRS to cut 20% of jobs
The Trump administration plans to reduce the IRS workforce by 20% by May 15th, affecting 18,141 positions, according to a source familiar with the situation. The "reduction in force" (RIF) includes approximately 12,000 employees who were laid off or accepted deferred resignation offers. The most significant cuts will occur in enforcement, impacting 8,260 employees, followed by taxpayer services with 3,247 positions. Acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause is expected to oversee these reductions as part of the administration's broader strategy. “Morale is suffering,” according to a current IRS employee speaking anonymously. “More and more of our workdays are taken up by questions, meetings, new issues coming down the pike and new directives from outside our agency. And really, all we want to do is do our jobs.” The employee added that the “everyday status quo” within the tax-collection agency already features people crying, managers apologizing for the firings and chaos, and social media “in a frenzy.”
LEGAL
Trump targets Paul Weiss
In a move that escalates his fight with the legal industry, President Trump has issued an executive order at Paul Weiss, just days after a federal judge chastised the administration for similar retaliation against Perkins Coie. Trump ordered his administration to strip Paul Weiss employees of any government security clearances and take steps to rescind government contracts from the firm and its clients. His order said global law firms have “played an outsized role in undermining the judicial process and in the destruction of bedrock American principles.” The order said it was intended to end “government sponsorship of harmful activity” at Paul Weiss and specifically punish one of its former lawyers, Mark F. Pomerantz, who had tried to build a criminal case against Mr. Trump several years ago when he worked at the Manhattan district attorney’s office.
Trump poised to launch new round of layoffs
The Trump administration is advancing with mass federal layoffs despite court rulings requiring the reinstatement of workers. Rulings in federal courts in California and Maryland on Thursday ordered some agencies to reinstate thousands of probationary employees who had been dismissed in recent weeks. The California ruling has already been appealed, and the administration has asked the judge to pause implementation of his ruling pending the outcome. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance acknowledged mistakes during the downsizing but defended the effort to improve government efficiency.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
‘Coachbots’ promise executive self-improvement for the masses
The FT reports on a new breed of "coachbots" that draw on generative AI and offer a cheaper version of a service that has hitherto been largely reserved for senior executives.
INTERNATIONAL
McDonald's warned on staff protection
The U.K.'s Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned all 1,400 McDonald's branches in Britain that they could face legal action if they do not take steps to protect staff from sexual abuse. The letter follows troubling allegations of a toxic culture of harassment within the fast-food chain. John Kirkpatrick, chief executive of the EHRC, said: "It is your duty to ensure that any anti-discrimination and harassment measures you currently have in place are effective." The EHRC has noted that franchises are not covered by the legally binding agreement signed with McDonald's in February 2023, which aimed to prevent sexual harassment. The letter outlines necessary actions, including regular risk assessments and effective complaint procedures, to safeguard employees.
Japan's wage hike hits 34-year high
Japanese companies are set to increase wages by 5.46% this year, marking the highest pay hike in 34 years, according to Rengo, the country's largest union umbrella group with 7m members. The increase reflects a consensus among policymakers, employers, and unions that higher wages are essential for workers facing rising costs of living. Rengo's member unions aimed for an average hike of 6.09%, the first request over 6% in 32 years. Despite the substantial wage growth, economists remain cautious about its impact on consumer spending due to ongoing inflation, which reached 4.0% in January, the highest in two years.
OTHER
Savage Pet recalls chicken over bird flu
California-based Savage Pet is recalling chicken boxes due to potential bird flu contamination. The recall affects products distributed in November 2024, with a best-by date of November 15th 2026, to retailers in Washington, California, Colorado, New York, and Pennsylvania. This action follows a report of a New York kitten contracting bird flu after consuming the affected food. Pet owners are advised to monitor their cats for symptoms such as fever, lethargy, and difficulty breathing, and to contact their veterinarian if any symptoms arise. The company emphasized that while humans can contract the virus, “no human infections have been identified among people handling raw pet food products”. Customers can return the recalled food for a refund. This is not the first recall for Savage Pet. A similar incident occurred in February after a Colorado cat was reported ill.
 


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