WASHINGTON (Agencies): In a significant move, employees at Voice of America (VOA) were placed on paid administrative leave on Saturday, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The order mandates drastic cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA’s parent organization, and six other federal agencies.
The directive also slashes funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, which broadcast to regions under authoritarian regimes. Emails sent to VOA staff instructed them to refrain from accessing internal systems or entering work premises. The exact number of affected employees remains unclear.
Critics, including press freedom advocates, have condemned the decision. Mike Balsamo, President of the National Press Club, stated that the move undermines America’s commitment to independent journalism. Reporters Without Borders echoed these concerns, warning of global repercussions for press freedom.
Trump’s executive order aims to reduce bureaucracy, but it has sparked debate over the future of government-funded media outlets. Kari Lake, a Trump ally and the newly appointed director of VOA, has defended the cuts, citing the need for reform.