The Trump administration took a significant step on Sunday by initiating mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other US-funded media outlets, signaling its intention to curtail organizations long seen as key to US influence abroad. Staff working on a contractual basis were informed by email that their contracts would end on March 31, 2025, and that they must cease all work immediately, including being barred from accessing agency buildings and systems.
Contractors, many of whom are non-U.S. citizens, form the backbone of VOA’s workforce, especially in non-English language services. With this move, many employees—who depend on their jobs for work visas—face uncertain futures. While full-time staff have not yet been terminated, they have been placed on administrative leave, with instructions to refrain from working.
VOA, established during World War II, broadcasts globally in 49 languages and was originally created to reach audiences in countries lacking media freedom. The sweeping layoffs are part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle U.S. government agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia.
Liam Scott, a VOA reporter focused on press freedom and disinformation, confirmed his dismissal, marking another blow to the network’s credibility. He criticized the administration's actions, calling them part of a broader attack on press freedom in the U.S. As VOA enters limbo, some of its programs have been replaced with music in the absence of new content.
On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order freezing funding for the USAGM, which had requested $950 million for the current fiscal year. The order also affects other critical media outlets like Radio Farda (Persian-language) and Alhurra (Arabic-language), both of which are critical sources of news in regions where media freedom is restricted.
The administration's justification for these cuts stems from an accusation that U.S. taxpayer money is being used for "radical propaganda," a charge rarely directed at the traditionally neutral VOA. Trump’s broader government cuts also include slashing foreign development assistance and reshaping federal agencies to pave the way for tax cuts, with some suggesting the goal is to make government smaller and more efficient.
These changes come at a time when global media competition is intensifying, particularly from China and Russia, which have heavily invested in state-run media to counter Western narratives. China has been particularly active, offering free content to media outlets in developing countries.
Meanwhile, in an editorial, China's state-run Global Times stated that the "monopoly" of Western media, including VOA, is diminishing, suggesting that the VOA’s narrative will become obsolete as more Americans view information through a multi-dimensional lens.
As the U.S. grapples with the implications of these changes, the fate of VOA and similar outlets remains uncertain, with many concerned about the long-term impact on global media freedom.
