On Sunday, the administration of President Donald Trump initiated widespread layoffs at Voice of America and other media outlets funded by the U.S., signaling a clear intention to diminish organizations that have been viewed as vital for American influence.
Just one day after all employees were placed on leave, contractors received an email informing them of their termination effective at the end of March.
This email, which was verified by multiple employees to AFP, instructed contractors to “cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems.”
Contractors constitute a significant portion of VOA’s workforce, particularly in non-English language services, although up-to-date statistics were not readily available.
Many of these contractors are non-U.S. citizens, meaning they likely rely on their soon-to-be-eliminated positions for visas to remain in the United States.
While most full-time VOA employees, who enjoy greater legal protections, have not been immediately terminated, they remain on administrative leave and have been instructed not to engage in work.
Established during World War II, Voice of America broadcasts globally in 49 languages, aiming to reach audiences in countries lacking media freedom.
Liam Scott, a VOA reporter focused on press freedom and disinformation, reported that he was also informed of his dismissal effective March 31.
The dismantling of the Voice of America (VOA) and its affiliated networks by the Trump administration is seen as part of a broader initiative to weaken government institutions, as well as an attack on press freedom and the media, he stated on X.
“I have reported on press freedom for many years, and I have never witnessed anything like the events unfolding in the United States in recent months.” With VOA’s future uncertain, some of its services have resorted to broadcasting music due to a lack of new content.
On Friday, Trump issued an executive order aimed at the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, as part of his extensive cuts to federal programs.
In the 2023 fiscal year, the agency employed 3,384 individuals and had requested a budget of $950 million for the current fiscal year.
These extensive cuts have also impacted Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which was established during the Cold War to serve the former Soviet bloc, and Radio Free Asia, created to provide news coverage to China, North Korea, and other Asian nations with strict media controls.
Additional US-funded organizations facing significant reductions include Radio Farda, a Persian-language station that is blocked by the Iranian government, and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the Iraq invasion in response to critical reporting from Qatar-based Al-Jazeera.
