President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to halt funding for the government-run news organization Voice of America (VOA), accusing it of being “anti-Trump” and “radical.”
A statement from the White House explained that the order would stop taxpayers from funding what it calls “radical propaganda.” The statement also included criticism of VOA from Republicans and right-wing media.
VOA, which started as a radio service during World War II to fight Nazi propaganda, says it now reaches millions of people worldwide each week.
Mike Abramowitz, VOA’s director, shared that he and nearly all of his 1,300 staff members were placed on paid leave. He added that the order makes it hard for VOA to fulfill its mission, especially at a time when countries like Iran, China, and Russia are spending huge amounts of money to spread false information about the United States.
The National Press Club, which represents US journalists, said the move “undermines America’s long-standing commitment to a free and independent press.” It questioned what this means for press freedom, pointing out that if a whole newsroom can be silenced in an instant, it threatens the future of independent journalism at VOA.
The order targets VOA’s parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which also funds groups like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. These organizations were originally created to fight communism. The new directive tells managers to reduce VOA’s operations to the bare minimum required by law.
According to CBS News, VOA workers were told by email that there is no more money to pay freelancers and international contractors. Additionally, grants to Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have been canceled.
VOA and its sister organizations reach more than 400 million people worldwide. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský expressed hope that the European Union could help keep Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty running in Prague. He planned to ask European foreign ministers to find ways to support the broadcaster.
Elon Musk, a top adviser to Trump and the owner of X (formerly Twitter), has called for VOA’s shutdown.
This move is part of a broader effort by President Trump to cut funding to various federal agencies, including those that help prevent homelessness and support museums and libraries. Trump has been openly critical of VOA in the past. He also appointed loyalist Kari Lake as a special adviser to USAGM.
Trump often claims that mainstream media outlets are biased against him, calling CNN and MSNBC “corrupt” during a speech at the Justice Department.
VOA was created in 1942 to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda. Its first broadcast, made with help from the BBC, stated its goal was to inform and reach the global public. In 1976, President Gerald Ford signed VOA’s public charter to protect its editorial independence. Later, in 1994, the Broadcast Board of Governors was established to oversee non-military broadcasting. A 2013 law change allowed VOA and similar broadcasters to air within the US.
