Trump Orders Dismantling of Voice of America, Citing Bias and Propaganda
President Donald Trump has ordered the dismantling of Voice of America (VOA), accusing the state-funded media outlet of promoting biased and divisive propaganda.
In a significant move targeting government-funded media, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle seven government offices, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the parent organization of Voice of America (VOA). The decision, announced on Friday, comes after years of criticism from Trump and his administration, who have accused VOA of being out of step with American values and promoting biased content.
A senior White House official stated, “Voice of America has been out of step with America for years. It serves as the Voice for Radical America and has pushed divisive propaganda for years now.” The executive order specifically targets the non-statutory components of the affected agencies, aiming to reduce their functions and personnel to the minimum required by law.
Kari Lake, appointed by Trump as the next chief of VOA in December, and currently serving as a senior advisor at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, informed employees about the order via email. Lake, a former news anchor and Republican political candidate from Arizona, urged staff to check their emails for further instructions on their employment status. Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that numerous employees received termination notices on Saturday.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media and Lake released a statement describing the agency as “not salvageable” and a “burden to the American taxpayer.” They highlighted the presence of some dedicated public servants within the agency but emphasized that such individuals were the exception rather than the rule.
VOA has faced scrutiny in the past for its coverage, including allegations of sanitizing reports about Hamas and downplaying significant political stories like the Hunter Biden laptop controversy. Critics, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, have accused VOA of promoting terrorist propaganda and biased content.
The dismantling of VOA is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal bureaucracy and eliminate what it perceives as anti-American media funded by taxpayers. Other agencies targeted in the executive order include the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, among others.
This move marks a significant shift in U.S. media policy and reflects ongoing debates about the role and funding of government-operated news outlets.