US cuts VOA funding, places employees on leave

Trump’s executive order reduces VOA’s influence, impacting global news coverage in over 40 languages

The US government placed numerous Voice of America (VOA) employees on administrative leave on Saturday and ceased funding for two news services that provided coverage in authoritarian countries.

The decision followed an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, which significantly reduced the authority of VOA’s parent organisation and six other federal agencies.

Several VOA staff members, who work for the international broadcaster that delivers news in over 40 languages, shared an email with Reuters. The message informed them that they had been placed on administrative leave with full pay and benefits until further notice.

History of Voice of America

Voice of America was established during World War II in 1942 as a means of countering Nazi propaganda and providing accurate news to international audiences. Initially operating under the Office of War Information, VOA broadcast its first radio transmission in German, assuring listeners, “The news may be good or bad, but we shall tell you the truth.”

Over time, it expanded its reach, adopting new languages and advancing its journalistic mission of providing unbiased news to audiences worldwide.

Following the war, VOA became part of the US Information Agency in 1953, reinforcing its role as a crucial element of American public diplomacy during the Cold War.

The broadcaster played a significant role in countering Soviet and communist propaganda, particularly in Eastern Europe and Asia.

In 1994, it was transferred to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (now the US Agency for Global Media), ensuring its editorial independence while maintaining its mission of promoting freedom of the press and access to information in regions where independent journalism is restricted.