Trump Administration Cuts Over 600 Contractors from Voice of America

In a sweeping move that signals a major shift in U.S. international broadcasting strategy, the Trump administration has laid off more than 600 contractors at Voice of America (VOA), effectively dismantling over a third of the organization’s workforce.

The mass layoffs follow months of turmoil within VOA and its parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), where funding freezes, leadership changes, and strategic overhauls have left much of the staff in limbo. According to internal sources, many employees were previously placed on unpaid administrative leave, and a significant portion of VOA’s operations have already been paused or scaled back.

The VOA website has not been updated since March, and live news coverage has been suspended. Several long-standing programs, particularly those aimed at audiences in Africa and Asia, have reportedly been canceled or placed on indefinite hiatus. The remaining output is said to be minimal, with essential services being maintained by a skeleton crew.

The Trump administration has defended the move as part of a broader initiative to modernize U.S. foreign media and reduce taxpayer costs. However, critics argue that the layoffs weaken America’s soft power and credibility abroad, especially in an era of rising authoritarian propaganda.

According to leaked memos, USAGM is exploring options to replace some of VOA’s traditional programming with syndicated content from private media outlets, including the conservative-leaning One America News Network (OANN). Such plans have sparked controversy among media professionals and lawmakers, who fear a politicization of publicly funded journalism.

As of now, it remains unclear whether the layoffs will be reversed or whether VOA will adopt a fundamentally new broadcasting model. Media freedom advocates warn that the agency, once a symbol of U.S. commitment to truth and transparency, risks becoming a shadow of its former self.