washington D.C. – Teh Trump administration is poised to lay off more than 500 employees at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded broadcasters, a move critics say undermines American efforts to counter disinformation from countries like China and Russia and endangers journalists abroad. The cuts, announced this week, represent a significant reduction in personnel at these vital international media outlets.
The layoffs stem from a series of actions taken by the Trump administration targeting these broadcasters, including the removal of union protections for federal employees at VOA and the shuttering of global media agencies earlier this year. These actions have sparked concerns about the independence and safety of journalists working for these organizations, especially those who have sought refuge in the U.S. after facing persecution in their home countries.
“The major challenge for the United States in general is this global facts war in which countries like China and Russia are essentially really having our lunch,” Trump stated, adding, “So, I really feel that we need an organization that is accurate, unbiased, objective, and that tells the truth about america to the rest of the world in the languages that they understand.”
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the nation’s largest trade union of public employees, condemned the removal of union protections, stating, “AFSCME members who fulfill the Congressionally mandated mission to broadcast Voice of america around the globe shine the beacon of freedom on the most oppressive of regimes. Now, because they have been fighting to keep Voice of America’s mission alive, their own voice on the job has been stripped from them. AFSCME will fight this illegal action in court.”
the cuts come after the administration shuttered global media agencies, raising fears for the safety of foreign staff. Jaewoo Park, a journalist for Radio Free Asia (RFA), told the Guardian in March, “We have many co-workers in different services, several of whom came here and sought asylum visas. If their own government knew they worked for RFA and they went back to their own country, their lives would be at risk.” He further explained, “Authoritarian governments have praised what Trump is doing right now… In Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, there were peopel who fought for freedom and democracy, and they came to work at RFA. It’s very risky for them. Their lives are in danger if Radio Free Asia doesn’t exist.”
These U.S.-funded broadcasters, including VOA and RFA, provide news and information to audiences in countries where independent media is restricted or non-existent. They operate in numerous languages and are intended to offer an alternative to state-controlled media and propaganda. The administration’s actions have prompted criticism from lawmakers and media advocates who argue that weakening these outlets will only embolden authoritarian regimes and diminish America’s soft power.The cuts also follow a recent report highlighting the financial strain on rural broadcasting infrastructure, exemplified by the struggles of radio station KSDP in Alaska, which is facing decimation due to Trump administration funding cuts. This underscores a broader concern about the administration’s impact on media access in underserved communities both domestically and internationally.
