Over 1,300 employees of Voice of America (VOA) were placed on leave on Saturday, following President Donald Trump’s decision to overhaul the media outlet’s parent company. This move comes after Trump ordered significant cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA’s governing body, which also led to the termination of funding for two U.S. news services aimed at broadcasting to authoritarian regimes.
VOA, founded in 1942, broadcasts in nearly 50 languages, reaching over 326 million people weekly worldwide. The decision to put employees on leave and halt funding underscores the ongoing tension surrounding U.S. government-controlled media outlets, especially amid concerns about their editorial independence.
The funding cuts and staff leave follow the Trump administration’s push to reshape these services, leading to a wave of uncertainty for VOA and its associated services that provide news coverage to restrictive regimes. Despite the controversy, VOA remains a significant outlet for global news, particularly in regions where press freedoms are under threat.
VOA Signage Picture on Flickr by Adam Polák
