What will be the fate of Voice of America’s Turkish edition after Trump’s decision?
Person holding cellphone with logo of US broadcasting network Voice of America (VOA) on screen in front of business webpage on 2025 in Stuttgart, Germany (Adobe Stock Photo)
A source from the Turkish edition of Voice of America (VOA) has confirmed that all full-time employees in their team received an email notifying them that they had been placed on paid leave.
A considerable portion of VOA personnel, including those working for the Turkish edition, are contractors.
According to the source, contractors have also been put on paid leave, and their future remains uncertain as their contracts are set for renewal in June 2025. While the Trump administration’s primary focus appears to be on full-time employees, the source believes contractors also face an uncertain fate.
Meanwhile, another editor from VOA’s Turkish edition claimed that contractors continue to work despite the absence of full-time staff.
As of March 17th, the VOA Turkish website only features news from March 14 and 15, raising concerns about its continued activity. Multiple insiders reported that the news service may shut down indefinetely.
Director says VOA being silenced for first time in 83 years
All full-time staff at VOA, the largest U.S. government-funded international broadcaster, were informed Saturday that they had been placed on administrative leave.
Crystal G. Thomas, human resources director at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the agency overseeing VOA and other state-funded news organizations, sent an email notifying employees of the decision.
The notice, sent to all full-time VOA employees, from reporters to senior managers, did not include contractual staff whose contracts expire in June, according to CBS News.
Starting Saturday, VOA employees were barred from accessing the headquarters in Washington, D.C. Some were sent home while en route, while freelancers, stringers, and those on monthly contracts were also stopped from working due to a lack of funds.
The decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on Friday, mandating significant budget cuts at USAGM and six other agencies.
“Such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law,” the order stated.
USAGM, which also oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, halted financial support for both organizations, affecting broadcasts in Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China, and North Korea.
Michael Abramowitz, director of Voice of America, expressed his disappointment in a LinkedIn post, stating: “I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied VOA is being silenced.”
“I learned this morning that virtually the entire staff of VOA—more than 1,300 journalists, producers, and support staff—has been placed on administrative leave today. So have I,” he added.
Abramowitz acknowledged the need for reform at VOA and noted progress had been made, but said the current actions hinder its ability to carry out its mission, especially at a time when adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia are investing heavily in spreading disinformation to undermine the U.S.
