Voice of America parent agency terminates over 600 more staff, effectively ending broadcasting network.

The Voice of America (VOA) parent agency, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), has issued termination notices to over 639 more staff, effectively ending the broadcasting network founded to counter Nazi propaganda. This brings the total number of eliminated positions to 1,400, completing an 85% decrease in personnel since March. The move likely marks the end of VOA, which operated in nearly 50 languages and reached 360 million people a week.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency of Voice of America (VOA), has issued termination notices to over 639 more staff, effectively ending the broadcasting network founded to counter Nazi propaganda [1]. This move brings the total number of eliminated positions to 1,400, completing an 85% decrease in personnel since March [2]. The action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce federal workforce and cut waste [3].

The Voice of America, established in 1942, has operated in nearly 50 languages and reached 360 million people a week, primarily in countries with state-run media [4]. The agency's mission has been to provide accurate information and combat disinformation, a role that has been criticized by the administration as biased and wasteful [3].

Senior presidential adviser Kari Lake stated that the cuts are in line with President Trump's agenda to shrink the federal bureaucracy and put "American taxpayers first" [1]. Lake noted that 250 employees would remain across USAGM, VOA, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), with none of OCB's 33 employees being terminated [1].

The layoffs have been met with criticism from VOA employees and advocates, who argue that the network plays a vital role in combating disinformation abroad and upholding U.S. ideals of democracy and freedom [3]. Some employees have filed lawsuits against the administration, citing violations of USAGM's policy on severance and the need for bipartisan support for VOA [1].

The future of VOA programming worldwide remains uncertain. The Trump-supporting One American News Network has offered to allow its signal to be used, but it is unclear what will replace VOA's content [3]. Despite calls for Congress to continue supporting VOA, many experts are pessimistic about its survival, citing the potential for viewers to develop alternative news habits and the possibility that a new administration may not prioritize VOA funding [3].

References:
[1] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/20/voice-of-america-staff-terminations-00415425
[2] https://www.newsmax.com/us/kari-lake-usagm-donald-trump/2025/06/20/id/1215813/
[3] https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-layoffs-trump-global-media-7a862bdc530dd3d48657c00d2df54539
[4] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Voice-of-America-parent-terminates-over-600-more-staff-in-likely-death-knell-50298277/