The administration of former President Donald Trump on Friday, June 20, announced a high-profile reduction of the “Voice of America” staff — a federal international media organization that plays a strategic role in promoting American information policies abroad
According to official sources, over 600 employees of the agency received termination notices, marking a further step in the broader Trump administration campaign to cut and restructure the federal media system. Sources, including The New York Times and the European Pravda portal, report that under the plan, the number of “Voice of America” employees will be reduced to fewer than two hundred — approximately one-seventh of the initial staff at the beginning of 2025. All journalists and support personnel will be placed on paid leave until September 1, after which official dismissals will occur. This wave of layoffs has become the final phase of a long and radical campaign by the Trump administration to reorganize and downsize the federal media. It is noted that this is another repressive initiative against independent federal information services, including “Voice of America,” which has a long history of covering events with objectivity and a commitment to balance. Last week, the Trump administration temporarily reinstated some employees of the Persian-language service amid increased tensions between Israel and Iran. However, on June 20, at least two of them also received termination notices. This indicates a systematic approach to cuts and an effort to reduce the presence of federal media in the global information space. It is worth mentioning that, despite the possibility of challenging these decisions, most employees remain on forced leave, and the organization’s staffing capacity has significantly decreased. Currently, “Voice of America” broadcasts only in a handful of languages, and radio broadcasts have been preserved only in Afghanistan. Notably, since February 2025, the number of employees has been reduced to a record 1,300, who produce programs in over 49 languages, reaching more than 360 million listeners and viewers worldwide. Unfortunately, following the signing of a decree by the former president in March aimed at massively shrinking and dismantling “Voice of America,” the network has essentially ceased to exist. Employees filed lawsuits, but the courts denied their requests for intervention in the process, citing political and legal complexities. Trump openly declared himself an opponent of the network, stating that it is “anti-American” and calling it the “Voice of Radical America.” Meanwhile, “Voice of America” personnel emphasize that their mission is to remain objective and report the news without bias, adhering to professional standards and ethics. With these steps, the Trump administration is attempting not only to reduce the influence of federal media but also to shut down a rare platform that has served as a bridge between the United States and the international audience for a long time. However, many experts and journalists consider these actions a step backward regarding freedom of speech and the independence of state media, equating them with global trends toward censorship and increased control over the information environment worldwide.