Donald Trump has signed an executive order that significantly shelters the independent broadcasting service, Voice of America (VOA), from functionality. This action particularly targets the agency's parent body, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), responsible for funding and overseeing news outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, which were originally established to counteract communist propaganda.
With this new executive order, USAGM is directed to minimize its operational presence, leaving VOA director Mike Abramowitz and nearly 1,300 staff members on paid leave. He expressed major concern regarding the implications, especially given the flourishing disinformation campaigns from adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia who are heavily invested in undermining the credibility of the United States.
Although some details of the order remain vague, CBS News reported that VOA employees received communication from USAGM's human resources director Crystal Thomas informing them that their federal contracts, along with those for international contractors and freelancers, were abruptly terminated. The scale of impact is striking, as VOA and its affiliates collectively serve over 400 million listeners worldwide, paralleling the BBC World Service in scope and significance.
This isn't the first time Trump's administration has clashed with VOA; during his presidency, Trump frequently criticized the agency, branding it as biased against him. Notable figures such as Elon Musk, who has taken a keen interest in slashing government departments, have called for an end to VOA altogether.
Trump's latest move is indicative of a broader trend within his administration towards cutting funding for multiple federal programs, part of an ongoing effort to reshape sectors dealing with public welfare, including homelessness prevention and cultural institutions such as museums and libraries. The implications of these actions for truth and accountability in news dissemination are substantial as critical oversight mechanisms for independent journalism appear increasingly jeopardized.
Voice of America initially emerged in 1942 to combat the propaganda of Nazi and Japanese regimes, and its editorial independence has been safeguarded by successive legislative measures, including the public charter established by Gerald Ford in 1976. A regulatory shift back in 2013 permitted the agency to broadcast within the U.S., further amplifying its reach amid rising global tensions. The future of such independent media is now uncertain under Trump's directive.
