The Trump administration has suspended most operations of the federally funded pro-democracy Voice of America and sister retailers, calling them vectors of “radical propaganda.”
“I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” VOA director Michael Abramowitz, who took the reins final July, mentioned in a press release Saturday. “I learned this morning that virtually the entire staff of Voice of America — more than 1,300 journalists, producers and support staff — has been placed on administrative leave today. So have I.”
Although USAGM is an unbiased company established by Congress, Trump’s order directs that it and a slew of different small businesses be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law” as a means of “continuing the reduction of the federal bureaucracy.”
In a separate assertion, the White Home listed a handful of complaints and assertions made through the years towards VOA concerning particular incidents and editorial judgments. Trump has held a public, longstanding grudge towards VOA, Politico famous.
Abramowitz acknowledged VOA wants “thoughtful reform” however mentioned neutering this “priceless asset,” given its “essential role in the fight against communism, fascism, and oppression,” was not the reply. That particularly holds at this time, “when America’s adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States,” he mentioned.
Press-freedom advocates expressed outrage and alarm.
The group additionally voiced concern for the ten workers of the Company for World Media who’re being detained overseas, noting they might be additional endangered.
These international locations’ dictators would seemingly relish the absence of such materials, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty president and CEO Stephen Capus mentioned in a press release.
“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies,” he mentioned. “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.”
Initially Printed: March 16, 2025 at 8:27 PM EDT
