President Donald Trump is gutting U.S.-backed global media, including Voice of America, that broadcasts news to millions worldwide — and that he has long held a grudge against.
The move comes after Trump signed an executive order to hollow out a string of small government agencies and offices late Friday. The order calls for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA and a collection of other media outlets globally, to be “eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
The weekend moves around USAGM suggest the administration will shutter entirely — or at a minimum dramatically reduce — the media platforms it oversees.
VOA Director Mike Abramowitz confirmed in a Saturday afternoon post on his personal Facebook account that “virtually the entire staff of Voice of America — more than 1300 journalists, producers and support staff — has been placed on administrative leave today,” adding that he was among those affected.
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