By
The US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order dismantling the federally funded news organization Voice of America (VOA), accusing it of spreading “anti-Trump” and “radical” propaganda. The decision has effectively sidelined VOA’s operations, leaving its 1,300-member staff on paid leave and forcing freelance workers and international contractors out of work.
The White House defended the move, stating that it was necessary to “ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda.” The order also targets VOA’s parent agency, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees other non-profit news outlets, including Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. Emails obtained by CBS revealed that federal grants for these entities have been abruptly terminated.
Mike Abramowitz, VOA’s director, expressed deep concern over the decision, warning that it jeopardizes the agency’s crucial role in countering misinformation from adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia. “This order undermines our vital mission, especially at a time when America is facing a global battle against disinformation,” Abramowitz said.
Criticism of the move has been swift and fierce. The National Press Club condemned the order, stating that it represents a dangerous erosion of press freedom in the United States. “If an entire newsroom can be dismantled overnight, what does that say about the state of independent journalism?” the organization questioned.
The backlash has also extended internationally. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called for the European Union to step in and support Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, whose operations in Prague now face an uncertain future. He pledged to raise the issue with European foreign ministers in an effort to secure alternative funding.
The executive order follows Trump’s long-standing hostility toward VOA, which he criticized extensively during his first term. In a move seen as part of a broader effort to reshape federal media oversight, he recently appointed Kari Lake, a vocal loyalist, as a special adviser to the USAGM.
Elon Musk, a billionaire and top adviser to Trump who has been spearheading budget cuts across multiple government sectors, publicly supported the decision. Using his social media platform X, Musk called for VOA to be completely shut down.
The order is part of a larger wave of budget reductions, with the president also cutting funding for federal agencies focused on preventing homelessness, as well as institutions like museums and libraries.
Founded in 1942 to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda, Voice of America has long been regarded as a symbol of American press freedom. Its 1976 public charter, signed by then-President Gerald Ford, safeguarded its editorial independence. Despite these protections, the latest move signals a stark shift in the US government’s stance on state-funded journalism.
As debate rages over the implications of dismantling VOA, critics warn that the decision could have lasting consequences for America’s global media influence and its commitment to press freedom.
Comments