Trump Issues Executive Order to Restrict Voice of America Operations

An executive order from President Trump aims to limit the functions of Voice of America and its affiliates, leading to widespread staff leave and raising concerns over the organization’s future.

In a bold move, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that significantly curtails the operations of the Voice of America (VOA), a federally funded independent news organization established in 1942 during World War II to counter Nazi and Japanese propaganda. The order primarily targets the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent company of VOA, which also supports non-profit entities like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, originally created to combat communist narratives.

The directive instructs the heads of these organizations to minimize their performance to “the minimum presence and function required by law,” a decision that has caused severe disruptions. According to Mike Abramowitz, the director of VOA, he and nearly all of the organization’s 1,300 employees have been placed on paid leave, rendering VOA unable to fulfill its crucial mission during a time when global adversaries, including Iran, China, and Russia, are investing heavily in creating misleading narratives about the United States.

Details regarding the exact impacts of the Trump administration's order remain unclear, with CBS News noting that employees were informed via email by Crystal Thomas, the USAGM human resources director, about the sudden halt in funding for freelance workers and international contractors. Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia have also been reportedly notified that their federal grants have been terminated.

The global audience of VOA and its affiliates is substantial, reaching over 400 million listeners worldwide, and they are often compared to the BBC World Service, which receives partial funding from the UK government. Trump's unelected adviser, Elon Musk, has publicly called for the shutdown of VOA on his social media platform, exacerbating concerns among advocates for press freedom.

This move is not unprecedented for Trump. He has critiqued mainstream media outlets, labeling CNN and MSNBC as "corrupt" and "illegal," while appointing loyalists like Kari Lake as special advisers to USAGM, further indicating an attempt to exert more control over federal media agencies.

The history of VOA is significant; its public charter safeguarding editorial independence was signed into law by Gerald Ford in 1976. A 1994 initiative established the Broadcast Board of Governors to oversee non-military broadcasting, while legislation passed in 2013 allowed VOA and its affiliates to begin broadcasting within the United States.

With the future of VOA and its role in providing impartial news now uncertain, questions arise about the implications for U.S. international broadcasting and the potential erosion of editorial independence in a time of growing global misinformation.