Voice of Africa Sends 1,300 Employees on Compulsory Leave After Trump's Order

I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,

VOA’s director Michael Abramowitz said on Saturday, announcing that more than 1,300 VOA journalists and employees, including himself, have been placed on administrative leave

For decades, Voice of America has delivered fact-based, independent journalism to audiences worldwide, often in places where press freedom does not exist,

Balsamo said

VOA needs thoughtful reform, and we have made progress in that regard. But today's action will leave Voice of America unable to carry out its vital mission,

he said on Facebook

Voice of America has been a priceless asset for the United States, playing an essential role in the fight against communism, fascism, and oppression, and in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world,

he said, noting that

The Voice of America has been silenced, at least for now,

a veteran correspondent said

It is critical we recognize our agency is funded by hardworking American taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet,

Lake wrote earlier this month

That mission is especially critical today, ... when America’s adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States.”

he wrote

It's not just about losing your income. We have staff and contractors who fear for their safety. We have reporters who work under the radar in authoritarian countries in Asia. We have staff in the US who fear deportation if their work visa is no longer valid."

A Radio Free Asia employee said

Practically everyone I know at Voice of America, from various departments and language services, received emails today informing them that they are being placed on involuntary leave for an indefinite period. This means that, as of now, Voice of America, which broadcasts in 49 languages worldwide, has ceased operations. It is not clear when and in what form it [the work – ed.] will resume and whether it will resume."

Quote from Yarysh

If you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately,

she added

The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years,

its president, Stephen Capus, said in a statement

Handing our adversaries a win would make them stronger and America weaker,

he said

Even if the agency survives in some form, the actions being taken today by the Administration will severely damage Voice of America’s ability to foster a world that is safe and free and in doing so is failing to protect U.S. interests,

Abramowitz wrote, noting

U.S. taxpayers shouldn’t be funding this,

the Rapid Response account said

The decision to dismantle one of America’s greatest national assets will inflict profound harm on the U.S. image, its global interests, and the promotion of democratic values — damage that no adversary could ever achieve,

Elez Biberaj, who briefly served as Voice of America’s acting director and retired in 2023, said in a social media post

David Enrichnew York Times investigative reporter

From what we can tell, VOA is effectively shutting down from this moment".

David Enrich also cites statements from informed colleagues at Voice of America

Journalists there said the cuts [to staff with access to work] were so widespread that they would effectively shut down the international broadcaster,

the newspaper adds

This core work cannot be disrupted by DOGE,

they wrote in a statement

Government contracting agencies shall, to the extent permissible by law, require Government contractors to disclose any business they do with Paul Weiss and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract,

the order says

This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary,

the order, disclosed late on Friday, says