WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: U.S. President Donald Trump accompanied by Los Angeles Dodgers Owner and Chairman Mark Walter (R), speaks as he hosts the 2024 World Series champions in the East Room of the White House on April 07, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees with a 7-6 victory in Game 5. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Washington D.C. – The Trump administration on Thursday abruptly terminated nearly 600 employees at Voice of America (VOA), the federally funded international news network long tasked with providing independent reporting to audiences in countries with limited press freedoms.
The mass firings, which primarily affected contract journalists and some administrative staff, represent more than one-third of VOA’s workforce. The move is the latest escalation in a months-long effort by the Trump administration to dismantle the broadcaster, despite a court order in April mandating that the government maintain VOA’s news programming.
“This is inexplicable,” said Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, in an internal email to staff. “I am heartbroken.” Abramowitz has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in an attempt to block the network’s closure.
The layoffs come amid increasing hostility from the administration toward the media outlet, which former President Trump has labeled “the voice of radical America.” On the same day, the federal building in Washington that houses VOA was quietly listed for sale, further signaling the administration’s intent to shutter the institution.
Kari Lake, a senior adviser at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, defended the decision, framing it as part of a broader government overhaul. “We are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities,” Lake said in a statement. “Buckle up. There’s more to come.”
Some of those laid off were international journalists from repressive regimes where independent reporting is persecuted. With their U.S. work visas tied to VOA employment, many now face deportation by the end of June.
Employees were notified of their terminations under personal services contracts, a classification that makes dismissal easier and avoids full civil service protections. Termination letters cited “the government’s convenience” as justification.
Lake, a former Republican candidate for governor and Senate in Arizona, has been outspoken in her criticism of USAGM, calling it “unsalvageable” and rife with “waste, fraud and abuse,” though she has offered no supporting evidence. She also announced that VOA would begin incorporating content from One America News Network, a far-right channel known for promoting misinformation about the 2020 election.
VOA ceased operations on March 15 following an executive order from Trump aimed at gutting USAGM. While some services — like Mandarin and Persian — have resumed following the April court ruling, much of VOA remains offline. Its English-language website has not been updated since mid-March.
The Trump administration continues to challenge aspects of the court’s decision, but has not appealed the requirement to restore VOA’s programming — a mandate rooted in Congress’s demand for reliable, independent global news.
