At least 639 staff members received their sack letters on Friday, including journalists from the Persian-language service who were recently recalled to broadcast to Iran following military escalations involving Israel
By Titilope Adako
The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued termination letters to over 600 employees of Voice of America (VOA), in what has been described as a mass purge of the U.S.-funded international news network.
According to insiders, at least 639 staff members received their sack letters on Friday, including journalists from the Persian-language service who were recently recalled to broadcast to Iran following military escalations involving Israel.
However, the return was brief. Three journalists from the Persian desk who went outside for a cigarette break on Friday reportedly had their security badges confiscated and were denied re-entry.
The layoffs are part of a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA’s parent organisation. According to Kari Lake, Trump’s senior adviser at the agency, the dismissals have affected over 1,400 staff around 85 percent of the workforce since March.
Lake defended the decision as necessary, saying, “For decades, American taxpayers have been forced to bankroll an agency that’s been riddled with dysfunction, bias and waste. That ends now.”
VOA was established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda and later served as a vital Cold War tool against Soviet disinformation. It grew into a respected international news source, especially in countries with authoritarian regimes where press freedom is restricted.
Critics, however, believe the sackings are part of Trump’s broader war against independent media. His administration is also seeking to defund other public broadcasters like PBS and NPR, with a bill currently under consideration in Congress.
Most VOA staff had already been on administrative leave since March 15, which effectively halted their output on social media and radio. Even journalists currently suing the government over the agency’s dismantling received termination letters on Friday.
In April, SaharaReporters reported a strange blackout of VOA signals across Nigeria, Ghana, and Niger, with broadcasts replaced by eerie music. The disruption caused confusion among listeners.
“People started calling in, worried that there had been a coup in America,” said Babangida Jibrin, a former journalist with VOA’s Hausa-language service, which has now been shut down.
VOA Hausa had served as a vital news lifeline in Nigeria’s insurgency-hit northern region and neighbouring countries where local media is heavily restricted.
“People are now cut off from the world, especially from critical international news,” lamented Moussa Jaharou, a listener in southern Niger. He described the shutdown as a “deliberate silencing of the poor.”
In areas with limited internet access, millions relied on VOA’s shortwave broadcasts to stay informed.
The widespread dismissals have sparked protests across the United States. Over 1,100 rallies under the slogan “Hands Off!” are scheduled in all 50 states this weekend.
The demonstrations are aimed at resisting what protesters call Trump’s campaign to dismantle public institutions. Reports indicate the layoffs were allegedly coordinated by Trump’s adviser and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk.
More than 150 organisations, including the ACLU, the Service Employees International Union, and Planned Parenthood Action Fund, are backing the protests.
They warn that the broader agenda includes slashing Social Security, Medicaid, public education, and now, press freedom worldwide.
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