The administration of President Donald Trump began implementing significant reductions to Voice of America (VOA) and other government-run pro-democracy media on Saturday, placing all VOA employees on leave.
Late Friday, following the passage of Congress’s latest funding bill, Trump ordered his administration to minimize the functions of several federal agencies to the bare legal requirement. This directive affected the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the entity overseeing Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Marti, which provides Spanish-language news broadcasts into Cuba.
On Saturday morning, Kari Lake, a former Arizona gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidate whom Trump appointed as a senior adviser to the agency, made an announcement on X urging employees to check their emails. Shortly afterward, notices were distributed, informing Voice of America staff that they were being placed on paid administrative leave.
“For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” said Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, in a statement. He noted that nearly all of the agency’s 1,300 employees had been placed on leave.
“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,” Abramowitz stated.
One journalist, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on commenting publicly, remarked, “We expected something like this to happen, and it just happened to be today.”
The decision was strongly criticized by press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, which released a statement saying 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.”
Alongside Voice of America, the U.S. Agency for Global Media issued notices terminating grants for Radio Free Asia and other agency-funded programs. VOA serves as a conduit for U.S. news to international audiences, frequently translating content into local languages. Similarly, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Marti provide news coverage to regions under authoritarian rule, such as China, North Korea, and Russia.
“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies,” stated Stephen Capus, the network’s President and CEO.
These government-backed networks collectively reach an estimated 427 million people. Established during the Cold War, they form part of a broader U.S. strategy to promote American influence and counter authoritarian narratives—a mission that also includes USAID, another agency facing cuts under Trump’s directive.
The reduction represents a significant shift in post-Cold War international media efforts, which have historically enjoyed bipartisan support. Previous directors of Voice of America have included figures like Dick Carlson, father of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.
Thomas Kent, former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the administration’s plans for the agencies. He emphasized that without these news outlets, conveying U.S. perspectives to the world would become more challenging.
“Without the international broadcasting, the image of the United States and the Trump administration will be in the hands of others, including the administration’s opponents, (and) countries and people who consider the United States an enemy,” Kent, now an international media ethics consultant, stated.
Kari Lake, in a video posted on X on Saturday, framed the move as a cost-cutting initiative, omitting any mention of the employees affected or VOA’s mission. The video was recorded outside a building leased by VOA, which she described as an unnecessary expense. She indicated her intention to break the agency’s 15-year lease on the property.
“We’re doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be cancelled, save more, downsize and make sure there’s no misuse of your dollars,” Lake stated.
The notification sent to employees formally placed them on administrative leave while ensuring continued pay and benefits “until otherwise notified.” It also instructed staff to refrain from using Agency for Global Media facilities and to return government-issued equipment, including phones and computers.
Trump’s administration had already been taking steps to assert greater control over Voice of America. Earlier this week, it terminated contracts that permitted VOA to access content from independent news providers like The Associated Press.
Additionally, the administration barred the AP from participating in White House press pools covering the president and moved to assume authority over which news outlets are included in such press groups. Furthermore, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently investigating major news organizations, including CBS.
Trump’s order to scale back government functions extends beyond media agencies. Several other lesser-known entities are also affected, including the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan think tank, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.
