In a sweeping decision, the administration of President Donald Trump has fired hundreds of journalists from Voice of America (VOA). The move has effectively dismantled the historic, U.S.-funded international news agency.
On Friday, 639 employees were laid off. The list included reporters from multiple language services. Among them were Persian-language journalists who had only recently returned to duty due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
Reports say the Persian reporters had stepped out for a cigarette break. While they were outside, termination notices were issued. They were not allowed back into the building.
‘Historic Act of Self-Sabotage’, Say Critics of Trump Move
VOA’s chief national correspondent Steve Herman described the shutdown as a “historic act of self-sabotage.” Established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA has long been a symbol of American democratic ideals and press freedom abroad, providing reliable news to countries with restricted media.
In a joint statement, three VOA journalists involved in a lawsuit to stop the dismantling said the firings “spell the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upholds US ideals of democracy and freedom around the world.”
Trump Appointee Defends Layoffs, Cites Bias and Bureaucracy
Kari Lake, appointed by Trump to lead the outlet, defended the decision, stating the agency was “riddled with dysfunction, bias and waste.” She added, “Today, we took decisive action to effectuate President Trump’s agenda to shrink the out-of-control federal bureaucracy.”
Since March, over 85% of the agency’s workforce approximately 1,400 employees have lost their jobs. Just 50 staff members remain across VOA, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
Longstanding Tensions with Public Broadcasters
President Trump has repeatedly criticized VOA, claiming it reflects a partisan, left-leaning bias. Former VOA journalist Dan Robinson described the outlet as a “hubris-filled rogue operation.” The move aligns with Trump’s broader push against publicly funded media, as he has also urged Republicans to defund National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).