The Trump administration has initiated mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded media outlets, leaving many staff members facing sudden unemployment. On Sunday, contractors received emails notifying them of termination effective at the end of March, instructing them to “cease all work immediately” and revoking access to agency buildings and systems.
VOA, known for broadcasting news and cultural programming globally, plays a significant role in delivering information to international audiences, including many in the Global South. Contractors make up a large part of its workforce, especially in non-English language services. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and rely on their positions for visas to remain in the United States.
Full-time VOA employees, although not immediately terminated, have been placed on administrative leave and instructed not to work. This abrupt suspension of operations follows President Donald Trump’s signing of an executive order on Friday, targeting the U.S. Agency for Global Media—VOA’s parent organization—as part of broader federal budget cuts.
The agency, which had over 3,300 employees in the 2023 fiscal year and requested $950 million for the current fiscal year, oversees several media outlets aimed at providing news and information worldwide. With programming disrupted, some VOA services have resorted to playing music due to a lack of new content.
The cuts also affect other U.S.-funded media entities, including Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda, and Alhurra. These outlets are crucial sources of independent journalism for regions where access to unbiased news is limited.
The mass layoffs raise concerns about the future of international broadcasting and the flow of information to global audiences. For young people in the Global South, this could mean reduced access to diverse perspectives and critical news coverage that inform and empower communities.
