The Silent Closure of Voice of America

Exploring how the cessation of a modest US-backed broadcaster sheds light on Trump’s governance strategy.

The Trump administration has been on a spree of closing various federal entities, recently issuing an order to halt operations at another batch, including Voice of America.

Voice of America, a media organization originally launched to support the Allies during World War II by countering Nazi propaganda, has until recently continued to air and publish content. But following new directives, its staff was suddenly unable to access their workplaces.

While the media noted the shutdown, it didn't provoke the same level of outcry as the closures of other entities like USAID. This difference in reaction could be attributed to VOA's absence from American airwaves, making its primary audience those abroad.

As explained by Gabrielle Berbey and her colleagues at Today, Explained who covered VOA’s shutdown, this development offers insights into the Trump administration’s methods of governance. Below is an edited summary of my discussion with Gabrielle.

Understanding Voice of America

Voice of America stands as the largest and oldest international broadcaster supported by the US, having been established in 1942 to broadcast shortwave radio messages against Nazi propaganda. By the conclusion of the war, it had expanded to distribute 3,200 programs in 40 languages globally.

Continuing its mission to oppose authoritarian narratives and propagate American ideals worldwide, VOA is managed under the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM). USAGM also encompasses well-known media entities such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Martí, having transitioned from radio to television and online platforms.

With reporters worldwide, USAGM provides crucial alternatives in regions behind media-saturated state controls or lacking media infrastructure, like China or Afghanistan, often serving as the sole counter-narrative to regime-sponsored content.

Notably not broadcasting within the US, many, especially younger demographics, may be unfamiliar with VOA, despite its significant eight-decade role, making its current silence historic.

Reasons Behind the Silence

Recently, the Trump administration enacted an executive order suspending employees from several outlets, effectively pausing operations at VOA and terminating funding for Radio Free Europe among others.

This decision traces back to longstanding critical views held by the Trump administration toward USAGM, accused of distributing American 'propaganda' and sparking debates on whether counter-propaganda aligns with US soft power ideals.

Leadership and Controversy

Under the leadership of Kari Lake, appointed by Trump despite her political failures yet demonstrated loyalty to him, efforts were directed toward reforming VOA. However, transformations, including staff reassignments and administrative leaves, stirred concerns of potential overreach.

Amid divided views within the administration, with opponents advocating for closure and others defending VOA’s mission, Lake ultimately endorsed the outlet’s closure despite earlier intentions to salvage it.

Implications and Reactions

The focus on cutting agencies aligning poorly or appearing to spread 'fake news' from a Trump-aligned perspective marks VOA as a target possibly as an alignment with broader government contraction or realigning US foreign policy under an 'America First' banner.

Internationally, Trump's move to dissolve USAGM elements was celebrated by some adversaries like Russian and Chinese media, which have long criticized these outlets. Absence of USAGM’s messaging removes a tool to challenge disinformation and decreases access to unbiased news for many.

Reflecting on his youthful reliance on VOA for American news and music from Poland during the 1960s, a former journalist acknowledges the ongoing necessity for such outlets in regions lacking media resources. This shutdown signals a significant loss for the unsuspecting audiences.

Bigger Picture

Such organizational closures highlight the administration’s pursuit to convert longstanding conservative beliefs into actionable policy, leveraging a domestic-focused agenda to retract from global involvements, seen similarly in the targeted defunding of USAID alongside USAGM.

This case epitomizes a strategic realignment preferred by Trump’s governance vision, hinting at broader systemic transformations advocated by the administration.