View of the Capitol Building from the roof of the Voice of America on 330 Independence Ave., S.W.
The Guardian is reporting that more than 500 full-time employees at Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded broadcasters will soon be laid off. The U.S. Agency for Global Media announced that 532 federal positions are being cut, part of a larger restructuring effort that’s already stirred up legal challenges and concerns about leadership changes at VOA.
These broadcasters—including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—collectively reach over 400 million people worldwide. Employee groups and unions are warning that the cuts could undermine U.S. public diplomacy and even pose risks to national security. It’s a significant shake-up for organizations that have long played a role in bringing independent news to international audiences.