Over 1,300 Voice of America (VOA) employees were placed on administrative leave on Saturday after President Donald Trump issued an executive order to cut operations at the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and six other federal agencies.
Trump's order effectively places nearly all VOA journalists on administrative leave.
In an internal memo, VOA staff were informed that they would be on “administrative leave with full pay and benefits until otherwise notified,” clarifying that the move was “not being done for any disciplinary purpose.”
Michael Abramowitz, VOA's director, expressed deep sorrow over the unprecedented move.
"For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced. 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. So have I,” Abramowitz posted on LinkedIn.
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VOA, founded in 1942, now reaches over 360 million people weekly in 48 languages. Abramowitz warned that the action would severely impair VOA’s mission to promote freedom and democracy, especially in regions under authoritarian rule.
"Even if the agency manages to survive in some form, the actions taken by the Administration today will gravely undermine Voice of America’s ability to promote a safe and free world, ultimately failing to safeguard US interests," he added.
The broader USAGM, which employs around 3,500 workers with an approximate budget of KSh 128.47 billion in 2024, oversees several other media outlets, including Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia.
Michael Abramowitz, VOA's director has expressed regret over Trump's move.
A statement by Michael Abramowitz, VOA's director, after more than 1,300 journalists were sent on leave. Photo: Michael Abramowitz. Source: Twitter
The funding for two of the US news services that broadcast to authoritarian regimes was also terminated.
VOA's Seoul Bureau Chief, William Gallo, confirmed that he had been locked out of all company systems and accounts.
“All I’ve ever wanted to do is shoot straight and tell the truth, no matter what government I was covering. If that’s a threat to anyone, so be it,” he posted on Bluesky.
According to The Hill, employees were directed to remain accessible by phone and email during business hours and to submit their personal contact details—including phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses—by Monday, March 17.
Additionally, they were barred from entering work premises or accessing USAGM internal systems without prior approval from human resources or their supervisors.
President Trump's executive order, signed on Friday, March 14, required USAGM and six other agencies to scale down operations to the legal minimum, citing the need to reduce bureaucracy.
"President Donald J. Trump's executive order on Friday will ensure that taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda," the statement stated.
The move has sparked widespread concern about the future of VOA and its critical role in providing objective and balanced news, particularly in regions where access to the free press is restricted.
