It may come as a surprise to many Americans to learn that the United States actually has a propaganda agency whose whole job is to just produce state-controlled and produced news and reporting. That agency is the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the agency behind the U.S.-run Voice of America “news outlet”. Donald Trump and company wants to downsize the agency and that’s exactly what they’re doing with the latest executive orders.
On Thursday, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent company of the Voice of America (VOA), sent termination notices to nearly 600 contractors, a move that has sparked celebration among those who view state-run media as nothing more than propaganda. According to three sources familiar with the cuts, the terminations primarily targeted contractors and non-full-time employees working as editors, reporters, and graphic designers. For a nation fed up with government overreach, this is a long-overdue step toward dismantling a system that many see as a mouthpiece for statist agendas.
The termination letters were blunt. “The purpose of this notice is to notify you that your Personal Service Contract is hereby terminated for convenience and will be effective, 11:59PM May 30, 2025,” read one letter obtained by POLITICO. The cuts are a direct hit to the VOA, a government-funded news network that has faced relentless criticism from the Trump administration for its perceived bias. Republicans, and a growing number of everyday Americans, have long argued that VOA peddles narratives that clash with the values of a free nation, with President Trump himself branding it “The Voice of Radical America” after issuing an executive order to gut its parent agency.
The layoffs have hit hard, especially for over 50 J-1 visa-holders who now face deportation within 30 days of their contracts ending on May 30. These individuals, many of whom reported for VOA, may return to hostile countries where their work could land them in prison—or worse. The termination letter, signed by USAGM Branch Chief and Contracting Officer J.R. Hill, offered a lifeline, directing affected visa-holders to contact [email protected]. But for Americans skeptical of government-funded media, the focus isn’t on the fallout—it’s on the principle: why is the government bankrolling journalists in the first place?
VOA Director Michael Abramowitz didn’t hold back his dismay, writing to staff that he was “heartbroken” by the terminations. “Inexplicable … and to my knowledge, no rationale has been provided by USAGM for this decision,” he said. His words reflect the shock within VOA’s ranks, but they’re unlikely to resonate with a public that increasingly views state media as a relic of authoritarian control. Abramowitz vowed to support the affected contractors, particularly those at risk in their home countries, but his promises do little to quiet the growing chorus demanding the government exit the media business entirely.
The terminations come amid ongoing chaos at VOA, much of it tied to Trump’s appointment of Kari Lake to lead USAGM. Lake’s arrival followed Trump’s March executive order to slash several agencies, including USAGM, which oversees VOA and other global media outlets. The order was a clear message: the days of taxpayer-funded newsrooms are numbered. For a populace weary of government narratives, Lake’s leadership is a welcome shake-up, even if it’s left VOA employees reeling.
Republicans have been vocal about VOA’s alleged anti-Trump slant for years, and their case has gained traction with a public that craves unfiltered information. The president’s “Voice of Radical America” jab struck a chord with those who see VOA as a tool of elite interests rather than a defender of truth. The network’s critics argue it’s become a platform for pushing agendas that don’t reflect the heart of the country, and they’re not alone—polls show a majority of Americans want less government involvement in media, period.
Efforts to save VOA have hit roadblocks. A federal appellate court recently reversed a ruling that had blocked the network’s dismantling, clearing the way for further cuts. Just a week before the ruling, a Justice Department official emailed attorneys about a “phased return” to the office, a move many see as a bureaucratic last stand.
Meanwhile, more than two dozen employees, mostly senior staff and journalists from VOA’s English, Farsi, Mandarin, Dari, and Pashto services, have returned to the office. Some VOA journalists suspect this is Lake’s attempt to meet a statutory minimum to keep the agency limping along.
The fight isn’t over for VOA’s defenders. Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s White House bureau chief and a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Lake and USAGM, remains defiant. “The plaintiffs and our legal team will fight this in court for as long as it takes,” she said. “Until there is no more fight left.” Her resolve is echoed by colleagues awaiting an en banc review by the D.C. Court of Appeals, but their battle feels increasingly like a rear-guard action against a tide of public sentiment.
For those who’ve fled oppressive regimes, the cuts sting deeply. “Some of VOA’s most talented journalists have been PSCs—many of whom have escaped tyranny in their home countries to tell America’s story of freedom and democracy,” Abramowitz said. Their contributions are undeniable, but for Americans who see government media as a contradiction of that very freedom, their plight doesn’t justify keeping a flawed system alive. The argument is simple: true journalism thrives in the private sector, not under the thumb of bureaucrats.
The VOA’s unraveling is a flashpoint in a larger debate about the role of government in shaping narratives. Most Americans, especially those who lean right, want the state out of the media game entirely, viewing it as a dangerous overreach that stifles dissent. The terminations are a concrete step toward that goal, and they’re being cheered by a public that’s had enough of taxpayer dollars funding what they see as propaganda.
Will VOA survive in a diminished form, or will it be the first domino to fall in a push to free the media from government control? For now, the message from the heartland is clear as day that the government has no business playing newsroom, and the sooner it’s out, the better.
What do you think about the U.S. Federal government running media agencies? Should they be cut entirely to save taxpayers money? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
