Trump Signs Executive Order Stripping Funding For Voice Of America, Accusing It Of Being ‘Anti-Trump’

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week to strip federally funded news organization Voice of America and six other outlets, accusing them of being “anti-Trump” and “radical.” Trump also instructed the heads of agencies responsible for labor mediation and homelessness prevention to cut any operations not required by law. 

The directive stated that leaders should “scale back the performance of their legal duties and the number of staff involved to the bare minimum necessary by law.” A White House statement said the order would “ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda” and included quotes from politicians and right-wing media criticizing the broadcaster.

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Congressmen and human rights advocates argue that the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle government-funded news outlets like Voice of America and Radio Free Asia represent a significant setback for Washington’s global soft power, especially as Beijing intensifies its efforts to broaden its influence.

Voice of America’s parent organization, the US Agency for Global Media, is an independent agency established by Congress. In 2020, Congress passed legislation aimed at reducing the authority of the agency’s presidentially appointed CEO. 

Originally established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA remains mainly a radio service and claims to reach hundreds of millions of people worldwide each week. Mike Abramowitz, the director of VOA, stated that he and nearly all of the agency’s 1,300 staff members had been placed on paid leave.

“VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America’s story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny,” he wrote. “For more than 80 years, Voice of America has been a priceless asset for the United States, playing an essential role in the fight against communism, fascism and oppression, and in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world.”

The media outlets are intended to provide unbiased news to audiences around the world. The National Press Club, a prominent organization representing US journalists, stated that the order “undermines America’s long-standing commitment to a free and independent press.”

The Club asked, “If an entire newsroom can be sidelined overnight, what does that say about the state of press freedom? An entire institution is being dismantled piece by piece. This isn’t just a staffing decision—it’s a fundamental shift that endangers the future of independent journalism at VOA.”