Voice of America

Lore & Background

Voice of America was established in 1942 during World War II, building on American use of shortwave radio during the war. It initially served as an anti-propaganda tool against Axis misinformation but later expanded to include other forms of content, such as American music programs for cultural diplomacy. During the Cold War, its operations expanded to fight communism and contributed to its decline in several countries. Throughout its operations, it has aimed to broadcast uncensored information to residents under restrictive regimes, even airing behind the Iron Curtain.

In response, some countries began investing in technology to jam VOA broadcasts. In 2017, Russia designated VOA a foreign agent, requiring it to establish a Russian legal entity, and it was blocked in Russia along with some other Western international broadcasters in 2022. Its programming can be accessed by Russian listeners using VPNs and other software. Its journalists often take substantial risks reporting inside repressive regimes.

VOA served its propaganda function by pursuing objective journalism, demonstrating that the U.S. has free press and free speech and providing a contrast for people living in countries where the state exerts tight control over the media. Policies have been implemented to try to preserve its accuracy and independence, including the 1976 VOA charter, which mandates its reporting be 'accurate, objective, and comprehensive', and the 1994 U.S. International Broadcasting Act, which prohibits editorial interference by government officials. The agency refers to these laws as its 'firewall'. During the first presidency of Donald Trump, leadership at the agency was replaced with Trump allies, and there were several allegations, both internal and external, of interference in hiring and coverage to be loyal to Trump.

Changes during the second Trump administration

In his second administration, Trump signed an executive order cutting funding to the USAGM. On March 14, 2025, almost all of VOA's 1,300 journalists, producers, and assistants were placed on administrative leave. The next day, many VOA foreign-language broadcasts replaced news and other regularly scheduled programming with music and the VOA website ceased being updated. On May 6, 2025, Trump ally Kari Lake, the acting head of the agency overseeing VOA, announced that One America News (OAN), a far-right, pro-Trump network known for promoting conspiracy theories, would provide news coverage for VOA.

On June 20, 2025, layoff notices were sent to 639 VOA employees, completing an 85% reduction in staff at the USAGM since the beginning of Trump's second term, and effectively shutting down the service. Of the entire USAGM, 250 employees remained on staff, close to the statutory minimum, with approximately 200 of those at VOA. On March 17, 2026, United States district court judge Royce Lamberth ordered more than 1,000 VOA employees to return to work by March 23. This ruling followed Lamberth's March 7, 2026, invalidation of Trump's appointment of Kari Lake to lead VOA's parent agency, which nullified the mass layoffs and other actions she took in 2025.

Reader's Guide

Voice of America's significance lies in its long-standing role as a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster aimed at audiences in countries with restricted press freedom. Since its founding in 1942, it has been a tool for cultural diplomacy and countering propaganda, first against Axis powers during World War II and later against communism during the Cold War. Its charter and the 1994 International Broadcasting Act were designed to preserve its editorial independence, though allegations of political interference have arisen, particularly during the Trump administrations. In 2025, funding cuts and leadership changes led to mass layoffs and the effective shutdown of the service, with programming replaced by music and the website ceasing updates.

A federal court ruling in 2026 ordered employees reinstated, nullifying the actions of the Trump-appointed acting head. Since 2025, State Media Monitor has classified the U.S. Agency for Global Media and its outlets, including VOA, as state-controlled media, describing the agency as operating 'under direct White House political direction'. VOA's legacy includes its reach of approximately 326 million weekly listeners as of 2022, its journalists' risks in repressive regimes, and its history of being jammed by countries seeking to block its broadcasts.