Donald Trump’s administration has sent out layoff notices to more than 600 Voice of America employees. About this informs The New York Times.
These cuts, which are part of a so-called “downsizing,” will significantly reduce the number of editorial staff to less than 200, which is about one-seventh of the number employed at the beginning of 2025. Journalists and technical staff will be on paid leave until September 1, after which they will be dismissed.
This move is another step in the Trump administration’s policy toward the federal media, including VOA. Last week, part of the staff of the Persian language service was temporarily returned to work amid the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, but at least two of them were also given layoff notices on June 20.
Despite the absence of an appeals procedure, most workers remain on forced leave. As of now, VOA only speaks four languages, and the only active radio broadcast is in Afghanistan. As of February 2025, the network had approximately 1,300 journalists broadcasting in 49 languages to more than 360 million listeners and viewers worldwide.
Since March 15, the network has effectively ceased operations after Donald Trump signed an executive order to effectively eliminate it. Despite the filing of a lawsuit, the court did not intervene in the case. Trump himself has repeatedly criticized Voice of America, calling it “anti-Trump” and even “Voice of radical America.” In turn, the employees declare that they remain committed to the principles of unbiased information.
