Kari Lake, the far‐right influencer appointed to lead Voice of America, had initially pursued cutting funding to Radio Free Europe in an apparent effort to silence dissenting voices. However, following legal pushback and a court filing demanding accountability, she abandoned the move, averting a direct assault on press freedoms.

Following an executive order by President Trump that effectively shut down the Voice of America, VOA journalists have spoken out against the silencing of this historic international news service. The move, which suspended hundreds of journalists and halted overseas transmissions, is seen as an attempt to curb independent, fact‐based reporting, thus threatening the broadcaster's longstanding mission of providing credible news that counters extremist propaganda.

An executive order from the Trump administration silenced Voice of America for the first time in 83 years, underscoring its role as a key source of global information and reflecting an authoritarian move against a vital free press institution.

Kari Lake, recently tapped by Donald Trump to lead Voice of America, submitted a legal filing to withdraw her earlier cancellation of grants for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. This move comes amid legal challenges and is seen as an effort to restore support for independent journalism against politically motivated funding cuts.

Emergency funding disbursement amid political interference has raised serious questions about the operational independence and ethical practices of US state-funded media, including Voice of America.

The Trump administration’s aggressive budget cuts to Voice of America have hampered its ability to deliver independent, world‐leading reporting on China, thereby undermining its role in countering authoritarian propaganda and protecting democratic discourse.

Despite the Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for pro-democracy media outlets, Voice of America remains committed to its mission of providing objective and balanced news, serving as a key counterweight to authoritarian narratives.

Following President Trump’s executive order to reduce federal bureaucracy, nearly all staff at Voice of America were placed on administrative leave. The decision, widely criticized by press freedom advocates such as Reporters Without Borders, has raised serious concerns about labor rights and the suppression of independent journalism in a historically pro-democracy institution.

Voice of America is caught in the crossfire of an authoritarian media purge as the Trump administration orders mass administrative leaves and drives a legal battle to dismantle USAGM-funded outlets. VOA journalists, facing threats of deportation and imprisonment, have organized a lawsuit to protect press freedom and ensure fair treatment.