WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping and controversial move, former President Donald Trump has overseen the dismissal of hundreds of journalists at Voice of America (VOA), gutting the 83-year-old institution known for promoting press freedom in some of the world’s most closed societies.
The dismissals were announced on Friday by Kari Lake, the Trump-appointed chief of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA. In total, 639 employees were let go, effectively hollowing out the broadcaster. Since March, more than 1,200 staff members — over 85% of the agency’s workforce — have lost their jobs, according to internal documents reviewed by the BBC and Associated Press.
"Today, we took decisive action to effectuate President Trump's agenda to shrink the out-of-control federal bureaucracy," Lake said in a statement. Only about 50 employees remain across VOA, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and USAGM.
Among those dismissed were journalists from VOA's Persian-language service, who were recalled from administrative leave last week following escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. According to the AP, some of them were locked out of the building after stepping outside for a cigarette break, only to discover they had been terminated while away.
A Legacy Undone
Voice of America was founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda. It later served as a key arm of U.S. soft power, broadcasting in more than 40 languages into regions with limited or no press freedom, from North Korea to Venezuela.
Steve Herman, VOA’s chief national correspondent, called the mass dismissals “a historic act of self-sabotage.”
In a joint statement, three VOA journalists — who had been leading a legal fight to stop the dismantling — said, “This spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upheld American ideals of democracy and freedom.”
The firings are the culmination of an order issued by Trump in March, directing the shutdown of VOA and other USAGM-run outlets “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” The order, framed as a cost-cutting measure, comes amid wider calls by Trump and his allies to defund public media, including National Public Radio (NPR) and PBS.
Critics and Supporters Clash
VOA’s defenders argue that the agency is vital to U.S. diplomacy and information access in authoritarian regimes. It has earned respect for its reporting in places where independent journalism is a crime — including China, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.
But critics, including Trump and former VOA correspondents, have accused the outlet of becoming politically biased. Dan Robinson, who spent years at VOA, wrote in a 2024 op-ed that the broadcaster had become “a rogue operation... reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media.”
Such claims echo Trump’s wider narrative about the U.S. press. Throughout his political career, he has branded major news networks as “fake news” and dismissed critical reporting as politically motivated.
This latest move has sparked alarm not only among press freedom groups but also inside Capitol Hill, where some lawmakers — including Republicans — have quietly raised concerns about dismantling a pillar of U.S. global influence.
As news of the layoffs spread, international journalism organisations condemned the action. Reporters Without Borders called it “a devastating blow to press freedom,” especially in regions where VOA often served as the only credible news source.
An Uncertain Future
While the White House has not publicly commented, insiders suggest that Trump — still a central figure in U.S. conservative politics — may push for similar cuts if he returns to office in 2028.
For now, VOA’s once-thriving newsroom has fallen nearly silent. Desks sit empty. The languages once heard in its global broadcasts are fading.
“It’s heartbreaking,” said one former employee, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This wasn’t just a job. It was a mission. Now, it feels like the mission’s been erased.”