Over 1,300 ‘Voice of America’ employees put on leave after Donald Trump cuts funding

More than 1,300 journalists, producers and support staff of the United States government-funded media network Voice of America were placed on leave on Saturday, said its director Michael Abramowitz.

“I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” Abramowitz wrote in a social media post.

This came after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending the funding for the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, reported Politico.

The agency also runs Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The networks are also expected to seize operations as their contracts with the operators have been terminated, reported CNN.

Together with its affiliates, the federal agency employs around 3,500 media professionals and operated with a budget of $886 million in 2024, according to its latest report to Congress.

“I learned this morning that virtually the entire staff of Voice of America—more than 1,300 journalists, producers and support staff—has been placed on administrative leave today,” Abramowitz said in his post. “So have I.”

He added: “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.”

According to him, even if the...

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