WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to strip funding from Voice of America (VOA) and other US-funded international broadcasters, citing alleged bias and wasteful spending.
The decision, which effectively suspends operations for several media outlets under the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), has drawn sharp criticism from journalists, policymakers, and international organisations.
A statement from the White House said the measure was taken to “ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda.”
The order also affects other federally funded media entities, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN).
Journalists placed on leave
Mike Abramowitz, Director of VOA, confirmed that he and nearly 1,300 employees have been placed on administrative leave.
“For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” Abramowitz said in a statement.
“At a time when America’s adversaries, such as Iran, China, and Russia, are pouring billions into spreading misinformation, this move weakens the United States’ ability to provide credible journalism.”
Crystal Thomas, USAGM’s human resources director, reportedly informed VOA employees of the decision via email.
CBS News cited a source as saying that freelance workers and international contractors had also been notified that funding had been frozen, leaving them without compensation.
Emails cited by CBS News further revealed that federal grants for RFE/RL and RFA had been terminated.
VOA and its affiliated broadcasters serve over 400 million listeners worldwide and are considered a US equivalent of the BBC World Service, which receives funding from the British government.
The European Commission criticised the decision, calling VOA and other affected broadcasters “a beacon of truth, democracy, and hope for millions of people around the world.”
In a statement to Politico, the EU executive warned that the move “risks benefiting our common adversaries. In an age of unmoderated content and fake news, journalism and freedom of the press are critical for democracy.”
RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus also condemned the funding cuts, describing them as “a huge gift to America’s enemies.”
Capus added, “The Iranian Ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years.
Handing our adversaries a win would make them stronger and America weaker.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international media watchdog, denounced the move as “a departure from the historic role of the United States as a defender of free information.”
RSF called on the US Congress and the international community to intervene.
Political context and allegations of bias
Trump has long been critical of mainstream media outlets, frequently accusing them of bias against his administration. In his first term, he expressed disdain for VOA, calling its coverage “anti-Trump.”
The White House statement referenced articles from right-wing media sources, including the Washington Times, which alleged that VOA displayed a “leftist bias” and had suppressed unfavourable news about Iran.
Furthermore, the statement cited complaints that VOA management had discouraged journalists from referring to Hamas as a “terrorist organisation” and had been too favourable in its reporting on the 2020 US election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden.
Kari Lake, a former news anchor and a Trump loyalist, was recently appointed as a senior adviser to USAGM. In a statement, Lake said, “This agency is not salvageable. From top to bottom, it is a giant rot and a burden to the American taxpayer.”
Elon Musk’s role
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, a top adviser to Trump on government efficiency, has also advocated for the shutdown of VOA.
Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recently imposed a 30-day freeze on USAGM funding, with indications that a permanent funding cut could follow.
The executive order also targets several other federal agencies, including those responsible for preventing homelessness, as well as funding museums and libraries.
The decision is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce government spending.
VOA, established in 1942, was originally created to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda during World War II.
It was later instrumental in countering Soviet influence during the Cold War. The organisation’s independence was formally enshrined in 1976, when then-President Gerald Ford signed the VOA Charter, ensuring its editorial autonomy from government interference.
