 The directors of four federally funded agencies that produce news and information for international audiences have been fired by a new chief executive officer appointed by President Donald Trump, in a purge that has raised concerns among Democrats about editorial meddling. Combined with the resignation of the director and deputy director of Voice of America on Monday, the firings ordered by Michael Pack, the new head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, represents a clean sweep of top officials who manage government-funded but otherwise independent news broadcasting operations. The speed and sweep of the firings - Pack began work only Monday after a bruising Senate confirmation battle - raised fears that Trump was trying to exert greater control over the output of such venerable organizations as Radio Free EuropeRadio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting and the Open Technology Fund, the agencies whose heads Pack removed via a brief letter late Wednesday. Pack, a conservative filmmaker who has previously run the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, had the support of Steve Bannon, Trumps former campaign chief executive and White House advisor, during his long confirmation battle. Trump and the White House jumpstarted the stalled nomination in April by publicly attacking VOA, claiming that its reporting was propaganda in support of China and Iran. Representatives of USAGM, formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, did not respond to a request for comment about the firings. According to USAGMs charter, government officials, including Pack and his agency, are prohibited from exercising any editorial control over the agencies they supervise. The agencys website says this so-called firewall was put in place to ensure that accurate, balanced, and comprehensive news and information is... 