Journalists arriving at the Voice of America (VOA) today found themselves locked out, as federal officials carried out an indefinite mass suspension of more than 1,000 full-time staffers.
The move also affected the Office for Cuba Broadcasting, which oversees Radio and Television Martí.
The sweeping action followed a late-night directive from President Trump, ordering the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to eliminate all activities not legally required.
The agency also severed contracts with privately incorporated international broadcasters it funds, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
Trump’s senior adviser Kari Lake signed termination notices for the grants funding these networks, though legal experts question whether she has the statutory authority to do so.
“I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” VOA director Michael Abramowitz wrote on Facebook, confirming he was among the 1,300 employees placed on leave.
Grant Turner, a former USAGM chief financial officer, called it “Bloody Saturday,” lamenting the loss of decades of goodwill and an audience of hundreds of millions.
‘A Gift to America’s Enemies’
The cuts sparked international concerns. RFE/RL President Steve Capus warned that shutting down his network would be a “massive gift” to adversaries such as Russia, Iran, and China, weakening US influence. He noted that nearly 50 million people in closed societies rely on RFE/RL for uncensored news.
Similar concerns were raised over the potential impact on Radio Free Asia, which has exposed human rights abuses in China and North Korea.
In 2020, North Korean officials executed a fishing fleet owner for secretly listening to Radio Free Asia broadcasts at sea.
While the Trump administration has long been critical of these networks, bipartisan support has kept them operational. US Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican and former chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, emphasized their importance in countering propaganda from authoritarian regimes.
Political and Financial Pressures
USAGM networks, which reach 420 million people weekly in 63 languages, have long been a source of tension. The Trump administration previously attempted to exert greater control over VOA, citing alleged bias.
This time, Trump’s budget-slashing adviser, Elon Musk, and other officials have called for shutting down or restructuring the agency. The administration has also cut contracts with major news services such as the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters, reducing the networks’ ability to supplement coverage.
Adding to the turmoil, three staffers from the government cost-cutting initiative DOGE have reportedly gained access to USAGM’s budget and internal operations, freezing payments to freelancers.
Controversy Over Headquarters Spending
Lake intensified scrutiny by accusing USAGM of wasteful spending on a new headquarters. However, former USAGM CFO Grant Turner called her claims “misinformation,” noting the agency actually secured a deal saving the government $150 million over 15 years. Staffers further clarified that the “new” building was constructed in 2006, and the old headquarters was not government-owned.
With the future of these networks uncertain, concerns grow over the loss of a key US soft-power tool in regions where press freedoms are under attack.
This abridged version was originally published by the NPR here