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Trump Adviser Proposes Cutting Voice of America to Just 18 Staffers

Invoking President Trump’s executive order to eliminate non-statutory functions, the proposal would outsource programming to One America News Network in a move now facing legal challenge.

FILE - This is the Voice of America building in Washington, May 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Overview

  • Kari Lake has submitted a plan to Congress to reduce Voice of America’s workforce from over 1,000 positions to only 18 employees.
  • The proposal cites Trump’s March executive order directing the U.S. Agency for Global Media to shrink non-statutory operations to a statutory minimum.
  • Under the plan, 33 roles would remain for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting while core programming shifts to feeds from One America News Network.
  • Current and former VOA staffers are suing the administration, arguing that the president lacks authority to dismantle the congressionally chartered news service.
  • An April federal injunction against the VOA shutdown was paused by an appellate panel, leaving most staff on administrative leave and operations stalled.