President Donald Trump’s administration has begun mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other US-funded media outlets, signaling an effort to dismantle state-backed journalism.
According to DAWN News, contractual employees were notified via email that their employment would end on March 31, with immediate restrictions on accessing agency buildings and systems.
Many contractors, especially non-US citizens, now face visa uncertainties.
While full-time VOA staff remain on administrative leave, some services have resorted to playing music due to a lack of new programming.
DAWN News reports that VOA, which broadcasts in 49 languages worldwide, was historically a key tool for US influence in countries lacking media freedom.
Liam Scott, a VOA reporter covering press freedom, announced his termination on X, stating that the administration’s actions were part of a broader attack on the media.
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“I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like this in the US,” he said.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order targeting VOA’s parent agency, the US Agency for Global Media.
The move freezes operations at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda, and Alhurra – outlets that provided independent reporting in regions with restricted press.
DAWN News highlights that these cuts are part of Trump’s larger effort to shrink the federal government, eliminate foreign aid, and downsize agencies like the Education Department.
The White House defended the decision, stating that taxpayers would no longer fund “radical propaganda.”
Critics argue that this shift weakens US media influence, particularly as China and Russia expand their state-run media presence.
China’s Global Times editorial claimed that Western media influence is fading, asserting that VOA’s narratives will become obsolete as global perspectives shift.
