Trump Takes Steps to Dismantle Voice of America Amid Controversy

In a significant move, President Trump has signed an executive order affecting Voice of America (VOA), leading to the paid leave of nearly all its 1,300 employees. The directive aims to diminish the presence of VOA and its parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media, amidst escalating concerns over misinformation by foreign adversaries. Critics argue that this undermines the agency's longstanding commitment to journalistic integrity and freedom.

Donald Trump has signed an executive order to undermine the global, independent news organization Voice of America (VOA), a move that has generated considerable controversy. The order specifically affects the VOA's parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds several non-profit entities such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, originally established to combat communism.

As a result of the executive order, VOA's director Mike Abramowitz announced that he and virtually all of the organization’s 1,300 staff members have been placed on paid leave. Abramowitz expressed concern over the implications of this directive, emphasizing the importance of VOA in combating the spread of misinformation from adversarial nations like Iran, China, and Russia, which he noted are investing heavily in propaganda aimed at discrediting the United States.

The Trump administration has yet to provide a clear explanation regarding the order, leaving the future of the organization uncertain. Reports indicate that employees received a notification from USAGM's human resources director, Crystal Thomas, regarding halted funding for freelance workers and international contractors. Similar notifications were sent to the leadership of Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, indicating a termination of their federal grants.

With a global audience exceeding 400 million listeners, VOA is analogous to the British government-funded BBC World Service. The executive order aligns with Trump’s earlier criticisms of mainstream media, alleging bias, and reflects ongoing political tensions within the media landscape. The appointment of Kari Lake, a staunch Trump supporter, as a special adviser for USAGM further underscores the administration’s intention to exert influence over the agency.

Voice of America, which began broadcasting in 1942 with the objective of counteracting Nazi and Japanese propaganda, has a long-standing commitment to editorial independence, established by a public charter signed by Gerald Ford in 1976. In contrast, critics warn that the recent actions by Trump might threaten the agency's mission and compromise its journalistic integrity at a critical juncture for global information dissemination.