On March 15, 2025, the U.S. government placed numerous Voice of America (VOA) employees on administrative leave and halted funding for two news services in authoritarian nations.
The VOA staff’s decision followed President Trump’s executive order limiting federal agency powers on Friday.
According to Reuters, Voice of America (VOA) staff members, which provides services in over 40 languages, received emails confirming their paid leave status while awaiting further notice. This order reduces the authority of VOA’s parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, and six other agencies, leading to significant changes in their operations.
Voice of America journalists have just been put on administrative leave
‘VOA is effectively SHUT DOWN from this moment’ https://t.co/LIowfe21J1 pic.twitter.com/0hERocW75U
— RT (@RT_com) March 15, 2025VOA’s Historical Role
The Voice of America (VOA) was established in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda, with its inaugural German broadcast pledging to deliver truthful news. The organization expanded under the U.S. Information Agency in 1953, focusing on countering Soviet disinformation during the Cold War. By 1994, VOA became part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, advocating for press freedom worldwide.
⚡️UPDATE: After Trump’s executive orders on Friday, journalists at VOA were told to stay home on administrative leave, with full-time staff feeling the impact.
"From what we can tell, VOA is effectively shut down from this moment."
VOA and other government-backed media are now… https://t.co/2PAPBUc2Y2
— The Daily Somalia (@TheDailySomalia) March 15, 2025The VOA staff leave and funding cuts signal a shift in U.S. public diplomacy. Once a beacon against authoritarian censorship, VOA now faces uncertainty, with its mission to deliver unbiased news in restricted regions at stake.
The VOA staff leave reflects Trump’s broader agency overhaul, raising questions about VOA’s future role. As funding dries up, its legacy of truth-telling in oppressive regimes hangs in the balance.
