In a move that has sparked widespread condemnation, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to drastically curtail operations at the federally funded news organisation Voice of America (VOA), accusing it of “anti-Trump” bias and “radical propaganda.”

The White House statement announcing the order included quotes from right-wing media and politicians critical of VOA, asserting that the directive aims to “ensure taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda.”

VOA, established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, currently broadcasts to hundreds of millions globally each week.

However, under the new order, VOA Director Mike Abramowitz and virtually his entire staff of 1,300 have been placed on paid leave, effectively crippling the organisation. 3

“This order leaves VOA unable to carry out its vital mission, 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,” Abramowitz stated.

The National Press Club, a leading representative group for US journalists, denounced the order as an attack on press freedom.

“If an entire newsroom can be sidelined overnight, what does that say about the state of press freedom?” the organisation asked. “An entire institution is being dismantled piece by piece.

This isn’t just a staffing decision – it’s a fundamental shift that endangers the future of independent journalism at VOA.”

The order targets VOA’s parent company, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which also funds entities like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia, originally established to counter communism.

The order instructs managers to “reduce performance… to the minimum presence and function required by law.”

Reports from CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner, indicate that VOA employees were informed of the changes via email and that freelance workers and international contractors have been told they will no longer be paid.

Emails also reveal that federal grants to Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty have been terminated.

The Czech Republic’s foreign minister, Jan Lipavský, has expressed concern, stating he will seek EU support to maintain Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s operations in Prague.

Elon Musk, a close advisor to President Trump, has publicly called for VOA’s shutdown on his social media platform, X.

In addition to VOA, President Trump has also cut funding to several other federal agencies, including those responsible for preventing homelessness and funding museums and libraries.

Trump has long been critical of mainstream media outlets, accusing them of bias against him.

He recently appointed staunch loyalist Kari Lake as a special adviser for the USAGM. 11 During a speech at the Justice Department, he labelled CNN and MSNBC as “corrupt.”