Trump’s order halts operations at VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

On March 15, over 1,300 employees of Voice of America (VOA) were put on leave following President Donald Trump's directive to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organisation of VOA, along with six other federal entities, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

This move is part of a broader initiative to reduce the size and influence of government-funded media, including two key news outlets that broadcast to authoritarian regimes, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, expressed deep concern over the decision, stating that nearly the entire staff of journalists, producers, and assistants had been put on administrative leave, effectively halting operations of the broadcaster, which operates in nearly 50 languages worldwide. “I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” Abramowitz said in a LinkedIn post, emphasizing VOA's essential role “in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world.”

In addition to halting VOA's operations, USAGM also terminated its funding for two other critical news services: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA). RFE/RL broadcasts to countries in Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, while RFA serves regions such as China and North Korea. These services have long provided a rare source of independent news in authoritarian states. 

Founded in 1942 during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA now reaches an estimated 360 million people worldwide each week. USAGM, which employs roughly 3,500 staff members, had an $886 million budget allocated for 2024, according to its latest congressional report. 

US President Donald Trump continued his push for federal budget cuts, this time targeting several key agencies focused on international media, public libraries, and homelessness.

On March 14, the president signed an executive order reducing funding for seven federal agencies: the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, US Agency for Global Media, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Institute of Museum and Library Services, US Interagency Council on Homelessness, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency.

By Naila Huseynova