President Donald Trump is making deep cuts to Voice of America and other government-run, pro-democracy programming.
Reporters Without Borders said it “condemns this decision as a departure from the U.S.’s historic role as a defender of free information and calls on the U.S. government to restore VOA and urges Congress and the international community to take action against this unprecedented move.”
RSF joined VOA reporters and some unions in a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully shutting down the Voice of America and asked a federal court to restore the outlet that for decades has supplied news about the United States to nations around the world — including many that lack a free press of their own.
VOA director Michael Abramowitz said “virtually” all 1300 VOA employees have been put on leave.
“For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” he said in a statement. “VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America’s story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny.”
VOA in the past has been criticised and viewed as the propaganda arm of the United States but for many more recent years has been considered a valid journalistic source.
Trump directed his administration on the night of March 21 to reduce the function of the U.S. Agency for Global Media to the minimum required by law. The agency houses and funds Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Marti, which beams Spanish-language news into Cuba. It had a budget of roughly $270 million, more than 2,000 employees, broadcasts in 49 languages, and has a weekly estimated audience of more than 361 million people.
Trump guts Voice of America – AP
Trump slashes VOA – New York Times
Law suits challenge closing of US agency for global media
Trump closes VOA – BBC 16 March 2025
Voice of America ends contracts with Reuters, AP, AFP – AP 14 March 2025
DOGE cuts leave a vacuum for China to fill – New York Times
Silencing a window into democratic America – Llewellyn King, AEJ
Asserting control over Voice of America – AP March 6
