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Voice of America

"VOA" redirects here. For other uses, see Voice of America (disambiguation) and VOA (disambiguation).
For the television series that was known during development as The Voice of America, see The Voice (American TV series).

Voice of America
AbbreviationVOA or VoA
FoundedFebruary 1, 1942 (1942-02-01)
TypeInternational state-funded broadcaster
HeadquartersWilbur J. Cohen Federal Building
Location
Director
Michael Abramowitz
BudgetUS$267.5 million[1] (Fiscal year 2023)
Staff~200 (2025) (2021)
Websitewww.voanews.com Edit this at Wikidata

Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is an international broadcasting state-media network funded by the federal government of the United States that by law has editorial independence from the government.[2][3] It is the largest and oldest of the American international broadcasters, producing digital, TV, and radio content in 48 languages for affiliate stations around the world.[4][5][6][7] Its targeted and primary audience is non-Americans outside the American borders, especially those living in countries without press freedom or independent journalism.

VOA was established in 1942, during World War II. Building on American use of shortwave radio during the war, it initially served as an anti-propaganda tool against Axis misinformation but expanded to include other forms of content like American music programs for cultural diplomacy. During the Cold War, its operations expanded in an effort to fight communism and played a role in the decline of communism in several countries. Throughout its operations, it has aimed to broadcast uncensored information to residents under restrictive regimes, even airing behind the Iron Curtain. In response, some countries began investing in technology to jam VOA broadcasts. In 2017, Russia designated VOA a foreign agent, requiring it to establish a Russian legal entity. It was blocked in Russia along with some other western international broadcasters in 2022. Its programming can be accessed by Russian listeners using VPNs and other software. Its journalists often take substantial risks reporting inside repressive regimes.[8]

It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and overseen by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), an independent agency of the U.S. government funded with Congressional approval, which also oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.[9] Funds are appropriated annually under the budget for embassies and consulates. As of 2022, VOA had a weekly worldwide audience of approximately 326 million (up from 237 million in 2016) and employed 961 staff with an annual budget of $267.5 million.[1][10][11]

The VOA served its propaganda function by pursuing objective journalism, demonstrating that the US has free press and free speech and providing a contrast for people living in countries where the state exerts tight control over the media. Policies have been implemented to try to preserve its accuracy and independence, including the 1976 VOA charter, which mandates its reporting be "accurate, objective, and comprehensive",[12][13] and the 1994 U.S. International Broadcasting Act, which prohibits editorial interference by government officials. The agency refers to these laws as its "firewall".

Under the first Trump administration, leadership at the agency was replaced with Trump allies and there were several allegations, both internal and external, of interference in hiring and coverage to be loyal to Trump. In his second administration, Trump signed an executive order cutting funding to the USAGM. On March 14, 2025, almost all of VOA's 1,300 journalists, producers and assistants were placed on administrative leave.[14][15] The next day, many VOA foreign language broadcasts replaced news and other regularly scheduled programming with music and the VOA website ceased being updated.[16][17] On May 6, 2025, Kari Lake announced that One America News (OAN), a far-right, pro-Trump network known for promoting conspiracy theories, will provide news coverage for VOA.[18][19]

On June 20, 2025, layoff notices were sent to 639 VOA employees, completing an 85% reduction in staff at the U.S. Agency for Global Media since the beginning of Trump's second term, and effectively shutting down the service. 250 employees remain in staff at the entire USAGM, close to the statutory mininimum, with approximately 200 of those at VOA.[20][21]

  1. ^ a b "The Voice of America, the largest U.S. international broadcaster, provides a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news, tells America's story and presents a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Inside the scramble to save America's pro-democracy media outlets from Trump". Politico. March 19, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  3. ^ Farmer, Brit McCandless (March 30, 2025). "The history of Voice of America - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  4. ^ "VOA Launches Programming in Sindhi". Inside VOA. July 1, 2022. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  5. ^ * "RCFP urges Congress to protect Voice of America's editorial independence". Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. April 28, 2020. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Heil, Alan L. (2003). Voice of America: A History. Columbia University Press. JSTOR 10.7312/heil12674. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Farhi, Paul. "Trump appointee sweeps aside rule that ensured 'firewall' at Voice of America". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ Kumar, Raksha (April 4, 2025). "What's Lost if Voice of America Disappears: Watchdog Spirit, Intrepid Reporters, and Focus on the Global South". gijn.org. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  9. ^ VOA Public Relations. "VOA Charter". Inside VOA. Voice of America. Archived from the original on November 20, 2016.
  10. ^ Borchers, Callum (January 26, 2017). "Voice of America says it won't become Trump TV". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 18, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  11. ^ VOA Public Relations (December 5, 2016). "The Largest U.S. International Broadcaster" (PDF). VOA News. Voice of America. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Mission and Values". insidevoa.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  13. ^ 90 Stat. 823 Archived October 9, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, 108 Stat. 4299
  14. ^ Helmore, Edward (March 15, 2025). "Trump sharpens attacks on US media as Voice of America employees put on administrative leave". The Guardian. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  15. ^ "Voice of America staff put on leave, Trump ally says agency 'not salvageable'". Reuters. March 15, 2025. Archived from the original on March 18, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  16. ^ "Voice of America channels fall silent as Trump administration guts agency and cancels contracts". CNN. March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  17. ^ "As Voice of America Goes Dark, Some Broadcasts Are Replaced by Music". The New York Times. March 16, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  18. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (May 7, 2025). "Embattled Voice of America to use newsfeed from hard-right network". The Guardian. Retrieved May 7, 2025.
  19. ^ Stelter, Brian (May 7, 2025). "MAGA outlet OAN to provide content for hollowed-out Voice of America, says Kari Lake". CNN.
  20. ^ Bauder, David (June 20, 2025). "Layoff notices delivered to hundreds of Voice of America employees". Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2025.
  21. ^ "Voice of America parent terminates over 600 more staff in likely death knell". Yahoo News. Reuters. June 20, 2025. Retrieved June 21, 2025.

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