President Donald Trump has called on Congress to shut down Voice of America (VOA), branding the U.S.-funded broadcaster as a “leftwing disaster” and urging that no Republican should support its continuation.
“Why would a Republican want Democrat ‘mouthpiece’ Voice of America (VOA) to continue? It’s a TOTAL, LEFTWING DISASTER — No Republican should vote for its survival. KILL IT!” Trump posted on Truth Social on June 26.
Trump’s statement follows sweeping cost-cutting measures led by Kari Lake, Trump’s senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA. Lake recently testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, describing the agency as “rotten to the core” and advocating for its dismantling or restructuring under the State Department.
Since March, the agency has eliminated approximately 85% of its workforce, terminating over 600 staffers within days—including layoffs of hundreds of VOA employees.
Kari Lake defended the restructuring by citing concerns over overspending, alleged political bias, and security vulnerabilities. She praised Trump’s executive order mandating the transformation of USAGM, stating major layoffs were required to “clean it up” .
However, Democratic lawmakers and media freedom advocates have strongly condemned the actions. Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA) warned of weakened U.S. influence overseas and characterized the cuts as ideological censorship. Critics claim VOA is being targeted for its nonpartisan reporting, which has in the past included tough coverage of the Trump administration.
VOA has a historical mandate, established in 1942, to provide unbiased news to audiences in countries with limited press freedom, reaching millions in dozens of languages. Supporters argue the broadcaster remains a critical tool in countering authoritarian propaganda.
Lake, whose changes stem from a Trump executive order, also suggested merging VOA functions into the State Department and replacing many staff with freelance journalists.
Legal challenges are already underway. A federal judge blocked some of the initial layoffs, and lawsuits aim to restore USAGM’s funding and ensure editorial independence
