In a sudden and sweeping move, President Donald Trump’s administration began scaling back Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded media outlets on Saturday, placing nearly all staff on leave and halting operations.
The directive followed Friday night’s passage of the latest funding bill. Trump immediately ordered multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—which oversees VOA, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Marti—to reduce their activities to bare legal minimums.
On Saturday morning, Kari Lake, Trump’s appointee and failed Senate hopeful, posted a cryptic message on X, advising staff to check emails. Simultaneously, VOA employees were notified they were placed on paid administrative leave.
“This is the first time in 83 years that Voice of America has been silenced,” VOA director Michael Abramowitz declared, noting nearly the entire 1,300-person workforce is now off-duty. He emphasized VOA’s vital role in promoting free speech and democracy globally.
Press advocates like Reporters Without Borders slammed the decision, calling it a sharp break from America’s historic defense of free information. Funding to other media outlets, including Radio Free Asia, was also slashed, prompting alarm over weakened U.S. influence in authoritarian regions.
Critics argue Trump’s cuts risk ceding the U.S.’s narrative to adversarial regimes. Former executives warn the move leaves America’s voice vulnerable abroad. Lake’s justification focused solely on slashing costs, omitting the networks’ critical mission.
Contracts with independent news services like AP and Reuters were also abruptly canceled, further tightening control over content.
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