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Multiple journalists working at Voice of America, a US-funded international broadcaster, were placed on administrative leave after President Trump signed an executive order dismantling its parent agency.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, the United States operates Voice of America (VOA), a government-funded international broadcaster that delivers news in nearly 50 languages to an estimated 360 million people worldwide each week. It is overseen by the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), a federal agency that also manages other platforms. Created in 1942 during World War II, VOA was originally designed to counter Nazi propaganda and later became a crucial tool during the Cold War, providing news to audiences in authoritarian states. Its mission, as defined by US law, is to promote “freedom and democracy” by offering “independent, fact-based reporting” in regions where press freedom is restricted. It is similar to how Qatar’s Al Jazeera operates as a state-funded global news network and Russia’s RT broadcasts Kremlin-aligned perspectives.
What’s going on now: Yesterday, roughly all of Voice of America’s (VOA) 1,300 journalists were placed on administrative leave following President Trump’s executive order to dismantle USAGM. The sweeping order directed multiple federal agencies, including USAGM, to halt non-essential operations and minimize staffing, effectively sidelining VOA’s entire workforce. Reporters, editors, and foreign correspondents were instructed not to enter their offices, access internal systems, or continue reporting without authorization. Some contractors working with VOA were also ordered to surrender their badges, press passes, and government-issued equipment, further disrupting the network’s ability to function.
The move has had an immediate and severe impact on VOA’s operations. Some local-language radio stations have stopped broadcasting news and are now playing music in place of scheduled programming.
This comes as the Trump administration seeks to reduce what they believe is unnecessary federal agencies. Conservative figures, including Elon Musk, have called for the agency’s elimination, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not fund media they claim leans left. On the other hand, critics say that dismantling VOA would weaken America’s influence abroad, especially in countries that saturate their population with anti-American talking points.
Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA who was also placed on leave, acknowledged in a Facebook post that the agency needs reform but argued that gutting all its staff will hurt the US as adversaries are investing significant resources in pushing anti-American propaganda.
