Trump dismantles Voice of America with executive order

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at significantly cutting the budget of Voice of America, a news organization funded by the federal government. Trump accused Voice of America of being "anti-Trump" and "radical." This decision marks a significant shift in the administration's approach to government-funded media.

The White House issued a statement saying that the order would "ensure that taxpayers are no longer footing the bill for radical propaganda," and cited criticisms of the broadcaster from politicians and right-wing media outlets. The statement also implied that the move was intended to reshape the reporting direction of Voice of America. The implications of this order are far-reaching for the organization.

Voice of America primarily provides broadcasting services and was established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda. The organization states that it currently reaches hundreds of millions of people worldwide each week. According to Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, he and almost all of the 1,300 employees have been placed on mandatory leave. The future of the organization is now uncertain.

Abramowitz stated that the order prevents Voice of America from fulfilling its "vital mission... especially today, when America’s adversaries, such as Iran, China, and Russia, are investing billions of dollars to manufacture false narratives to denigrate America." He emphasized the importance of VOA's role in combating disinformation campaigns.

The National Press Club, an organization representing American journalists, stated that the order "undermines America’s longstanding commitment to a free and independent media." The organization added, "If an entire newsroom can be sidelined overnight, what does that say about the state of press freedom?" The implications for journalistic integrity are a major concern.

The organization further noted: "An entire agency is being dismantled piece by piece. This is not just a personnel decision, but a fundamental shift that jeopardizes the future of independent news at Voice of America." This statement highlights the potential long-term consequences of the order.

The President's order targets Voice of America's parent company, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which also funds non-profit entities such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, originally established to counter communism. The order directs managers to "reduce performance to the minimum level of existence and function required by law." This suggests a potential dismantling of the agency's operations.

CBS, the BBC's news partner in the U.S., reported that USAGM Human Resources Director Christo Thomas notified Voice of America employees in an email. A source told CBS that all freelancers and international contractors were informed that there were no funds to pay them. The email obtained by CBS notified the heads of Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that their federal grants had been terminated. This abrupt action has created significant uncertainty.

Voice of America and other stations under the USAGM umbrella state that they serve over 400 million listeners. They are roughly equivalent to the BBC World Service, which is partially funded by the British government. Czech Republic Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský stated that he hopes the EU can help Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty continue operating in Prague. He said he would ask Monday's meeting of European foreign ministers to look for ways to at least partially sustain the broadcaster's operations. International support may be crucial for the organization's survival.

Elon Musk, the billionaire and senior advisor to Trump, has been overseeing massive cuts in the U.S. government, and he used his social media platform X to call for the closure of Voice of America. The President has also cut funding to several other federal agencies, including those responsible for preventing homelessness and funding museums and libraries. These cuts reflect a broader trend in the administration's priorities.

Trump leveled harsh criticism against Voice of America during his first term. He recently appointed staunch loyalist Kari Lake as a special advisor to the USAGM. The President has often claimed that the mainstream media is biased against him. He called CNN and MSNBC "corrupt" in a speech at the Department of Justice. This rhetoric has fueled the administration's actions against media outlets.

Voice of America was established in 1942 with the mission of combating Nazi and Japanese propaganda. Its first broadcast—conducted with a transmitter lent to the U.S. by the BBC—declared a modest purpose. Former President Gerald Ford signed Voice of America's Public Charter in 1976 to guarantee its editorial independence. By 1994, the Broadcasting Board of Governors was established to oversee non-military broadcasting. In 2013, a legislative shift allowed Voice of America and its affiliates to begin broadcasting within the United States. This history underscores the organization's long-standing role in international communication.