Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City

Trump administration fires hundreds at Voice of America

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The New York Times
  • 16 May 2025 15:26
2 Min Read

Nearly 600 Voice of America staff were laid off by the Trump administration, sparking press freedom concerns and signaling deeper cuts to US international broadcasting.

Listen
  • x
  • This is the Voice of America building in Washington, on May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
    This is the Voice of America building in Washington, on May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The Trump administration on Thursday laid off nearly 600 employees at Voice of America (VOA), the New York Times (NYT) reported on Thursday, adding that the firings targeted mostly journalists and contractors, amounting to more than a third of VOA’s workforce.

VOA has been repeatedly accused by officials in countries where it operates of conducting soft power operations or acting as a regime-change arm of the US.

The report argues that the move signals a continued effort by the administration to dismantle the broadcaster, despite a federal court ruling in April requiring the preservation of its news programming.

It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump has previously called VOA “the voice of radical America.”

Related News

Trump directs Pentagon to begin nuclear weapons testing

Trump: South Korea to build nuclear submarine in Philadelphia shipyard

According to the NYT, most of the laid-off employees were working under personal services contracts, making them more vulnerable to termination than full-time civil service staff. Many were foreign nationals, including journalists whose immigration status is tied to their employment at VOA. That said, they must now leave the United States by the end of June.

Michael Abramowitz, VOA’s director, called the layoffs “inexplicable” in an internal email, adding, “I am heartbroken.”

Firings spark legal and ethical concerns over press freedom

The dismissals come as part of a broader push to shut down the US Agency for Global Media. Despite a court order in April to restore Voice of America programming, most services remain dormant, with only some, like the Mandarin and Persian divisions, resuming. 

Senior advisor at USAGM and a Trump ally, Kari Lake, defended the firings, stating, "We are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities… Buckle up. There’s more to come."

Lake, who previously described the agency as "unsalvageable," has also announced plans to incorporate content from the pro-Trump One America News Network (OANN) into VOA programming. On the same day as the layoffs, the federal building in Washington that houses VOA was listed for sale, further signaling the administration’s intention to shutter the institution, according to the NYT.

In termination letters, employees were informed that the dismissals were carried out for "the government’s convenience."

  • United States
  • Voice of America
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Displaced Sudanese who fled El-Fasher after the city fell to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rest near the town of Tawila in war-torn Sudan's western Darfur region (AP)
Politics

UAE directly funded RSF, leading to fall of El-Fasher: Sudan

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests
Politics

'You’re not welcome in Greece': Israelis face port protests

This photo released by the Israeli military on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023, shows ground operations inside the Gaza Strip (AP)
Politics

IOF soldier who fought in Gaza, Lebanon denied entry to Czech Republic

UN inquiry exposes 'Israel’s' four genocidal crimes against Gaza
Politics

'Israel' committed four genocidal acts in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS