The Trump administration moved to dismantle several U.S.-funded media outlets over the weekend, including Voice of America (VOA), in a sweeping executive order that eliminated funding, placed nearly all employees on leave, and directed the shutdown of key broadcasting operations. The decision has sparked backlash from press freedom advocates and former agency officials, who argue the move undermines the U.S.'s longstanding mission to promote democracy abroad.
President Trump signed the order Friday, targeting seven federal entities, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The order instructed that these entities reduce their functions to the "minimum presence and function required by law."
"Voice of America has been out of step with America for years. It serves as the Voice for Radical America and has pushed divisive propaganda for years now," a senior White House official told Fox News Digital.
Kari Lake, the former news anchor and Trump political ally who was appointed senior advisor at USAGM in December, informed staff via social media that their employment status had changed. "The President has issued an Executive Order titled Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy. It affects USAGM and its outlets VOA and OCB. If you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately for more information," Lake posted on X.
On Saturday, employees of VOA, which employs approximately 1,300 people, were notified by USAGM's human resources department that they had been placed on leave and barred from entering VOA's headquarters or using agency-provided equipment. Simultaneously, Lake announced the cancellation of USAGM's 15-year lease, describing it as "obscenely expensive."
In a joint press release, USAGM leadership declared the agency "not salvageable." The statement read: "From top-to-bottom this agency is a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer-a national security risk for this nation-and irretrievably broken."
Criticism of VOA and its sister agencies has been mounting among Trump allies, who have accused them of promoting left-leaning, biased content. Recent complaints include VOA's 2020 coverage questioning "white privilege," its reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop, and guidelines instructing reporters to avoid labeling Hamas as terrorists outside of direct quotes. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast criticized VOA's handling of Hamas-related stories, stating, "American taxpayers should not be paying the salaries of Hamas apologists who spout terrorist propaganda."
Press freedom groups and current agency leaders condemned the administration's actions, warning of the consequences. "Attempts to defund @RFERL would be a massive gift to America's enemies, many of whom are already celebrating," RFE/RL president and CEO Steve Capus said in a statement.
Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz echoed concerns, writing on LinkedIn: "VOA needs thoughtful reform, and we have made progress in that regard. But today's action will leave Voice of America unable to carry out its vital mission. That mission is especially critical today, when America's adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States."
Radio Free Asia's president and CEO Bay Fang also weighed in, stating, "The termination of RFA's grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space."
The order's reach extends beyond USAGM. Other federal entities impacted include the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and the Minority Business Development Agency.
