The Trump administration initiated mass layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded media outlets over the weekend, leaving hundreds of employees in limbo. Contractors received abrupt termination notices via email on Sunday, instructing them to cease work immediately and surrender access to agency facilities and systems, according to accounts shared with AFP by affected staff.
Contractors, who form a significant portion of VOA's workforce, particularly in non-English language services, are set to lose their positions by March 31. Many are non-U.S. citizens reliant on these jobs for visas, raising concerns about their legal standing in the country. Full-time employees remain on administrative leave, though their future remains uncertain.
The layoffs follow President Trump's Friday executive order targeting the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA's parent organization. The agency had requested $950 million for fiscal year 2024 and employed over 3,300 people in 2023. Several VOA services have already shifted to playing music due to halted programming.
Other impacted outlets include Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and Radio Free Asia, all now frozen by the government cuts. Observers warn the move could weaken U.S. international media reach during a critical geopolitical period.
