Voice of America Gutted in Major Funding Cut

According to Reuters, in a significant shake-up, numerous employees at Voice of America (VOA) were placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits on Saturday, following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. The order also led to the termination of funding for two U.S.-based news services that broadcast to authoritarian regimes. These services, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), are known for providing news to regions like Eastern Europe, China, and North Korea.

The directive, issued by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA's parent organization, instructed affected employees to stay away from their workplaces and refrain from accessing internal systems. While the exact number of employees placed on leave remains unclear, the move has raised concerns about the future of these media outlets, which have historically served as vital sources of independent news in repressive environments.

VOA, established in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda, now reaches an estimated 350 million people weekly across nearly 50 languages. Alongside RFE/RL and RFA, it has been a lifeline for audiences in countries where press freedom is severely restricted. USAGM, which employs

around 3,500 people and operates on an $886 million budget, has played a crucial role in disseminating reliable information globally.

RFE/RL, in particular, has faced significant challenges in recent years. The Russian government has labeled it an "undesirable organization," and individuals in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine risk fines or imprisonment for engaging with its content. Despite these obstacles, RFE/RL and VOA have remained steadfast in their mission to provide uncensored news.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky praised RFE/RL as a "beacon" for those living under totalitarian regimes. "From Belarus to Iran, from Russia to Afghanistan, RFE and Voice of America are among the few free sources for people living without freedom," he wrote on social media platform X.

Trump's executive order, signed on Friday, mandated USAGM and six other federal agencies to scale back their operations to the bare minimum required by law. The former president, who has long criticized mainstream media for perceived bias, appointed former news anchor Kari Lake as VOA's director during his second term. Lake, a vocal supporter of Trump, has frequently accused traditional media outlets of harboring anti-Trump sentiments.

On Saturday, Lake took to social media to inform employees about the impact of Trump's order on USAGM and its affiliated outlets, including VOA and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). She urged staff to check their emails for updates but did not provide further details. Neither Lake nor USAGM responded to requests for comment.

Frankly, it is absolutely ridiculous that taxpayers pay to broadcast American propaganda into other countries. Though Propagandists in the USA and elsewhere are upset about this, the taxpayer should be happy. This is yet another example of government waste.