Voice of America (VOA), America’s most crucial source of news in the world since World War II, sees half its workforce cut. Between recent layoffs and employees of both VOA and the U.S. Agency for Global Media. This staggering number, at 85 percent of their entire workforce of 1,400 is as equally shocking. The announcement comes as part of a larger, deeply misguided restructuring push that critics far and wide are blaming for gutting independent journalism and the agency’s mission.
The layoffs appeared to strike the Persian-language service particularly hard. This same team had recently been summoned back from administrative leave to deliver these reports during an escalation of tensions in the Middle East. In an incredible twist, three reporters from this wire service had their press passes pulled. They were prevented from going to work last Friday. This sudden move has alarmed many, including frontline VOA journalists who now fear for their reporting to continue, particularly in vulnerable areas.
Historical Context of Voice of America
Established during World War II, Voice of America has long served as a vital channel for news, providing balanced information to countries around the world. Its embrace of transparency, democratic ideals and freedom of expression has made the agency a vital asset in America’s soft power. Yet it’s the present administration’s actions that have us all sounding the alarm about the erosion of these values.
Kari Lake, Trump’s senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, characterized the layoffs as part of a “long overdue effort to dismantle a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy.” She further stated, “For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to bankroll an agency that’s been riddled with dysfunction, bias and waste.” That ends now.
Tensions continue to mount and poke between the Trump administration and the so-called “fake news” media. These outlets have since doggedly denied any leftward bias, labeled as such by conservatives. Those on the president’s side argue that these layoffs are a crucial first step to reforming what’s often considered a broken agency.
Reactions from VOA Employees
The ensuing layoffs have sparked outrage among the staff still working and those recently laid off. Jessica Jerreat, Kate Neeper, and Patsy Widakuswara, three impacted journalists, are currently pursuing legal action against the administration’s dismantling efforts. They issued a joint statement expressing their dismay at the layoffs:
“It spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upholds US ideals of democracy and freedom around the world.”
Steve Herman, VOA’s chief national correspondent, decried the cuts as a “historic act of self-sabotage.” He continued to stress that these cuts drastically cripple the agency’s capacity to carry out its mission efficiently and effectively. He noted, “I believe that the destruction is permanent,” due to a lack of indications that Congress will provide necessary funding for VOA in the upcoming fiscal year.
The Future of Voice of America
Heed the Past
Looking forward, the future of VOA is dim as much of its mission and staff have been cut. The organization has shortchanged its historic role in defender of core U.S. values abroad. With these recent changes, advocates say that it can’t fulfill this important mission anymore.
So, a pro-Trump outlet like One America News Network has gone big and made its signal available to VOA. This shift is intended to bolster VOA’s broadcasting resources as the crisis continues.
