More than 1,300 employees, including several Kenyan journalists, are at risk of losing their jobs after being placed on administrative leave by the international media organization Voice of America (VOA).
The suspension of normal operations follows the termination of funding for two major U.S. news services that primarily broadcast to countries with authoritarian governments.
This decision came just a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered significant budget cuts that affected the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization of VOA, along with six other federal agencies.
In a statement, the White House explained that the budget reductions were part of an ongoing effort to downsize federal agencies that the president deemed unnecessary.
“This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary,” the order stated.
VOA Director Michael Abramowitz expressed deep concern over the development, calling it a major setback for the company, which has been operational for over eight decades. “I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post.
The decision is expected to impact Kenyan journalists working with VOA, as the media house employs several Kenyan nationals in various roles.
Among them is Vincent Makori, a writer, reporter, and broadcaster in Swahili, as well as Esther Githui Ewart, a prominent anchor and writer for VOA’s English to Africa program.
These journalists, along with their colleagues, now face an uncertain future as the media company struggles with the funding cut.
USAGM has also withdrawn financial support from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, another major news organization that broadcasts to Eastern Europe, including Russia and Ukraine—two nations that have been at the center of global political controversies in recent years.
Media analysts and experts have raised concerns over the impact of these budget cuts, warning that they could severely limit access to independent journalism in countries with restricted press freedom.
VOA has been recognized as a critical source of reliable news, particularly in regions where government-controlled media dominates.
Established in 1942, VOA was originally launched to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II. Over the years, it has grown into a global news powerhouse, reaching over 360 million people every week with news reports in 50 different languages.
According to an internal memo sent to staff on Saturday morning, VOA employees have been instructed to surrender their USAGM identification badges and press passes, as they will not be officially on duty during the suspension period.
The memo also warned employees on administrative leave against attempting to access VOA offices or internal USAGM systems without prior approval from human resources or their supervisors.
However, workers were advised to remain available via phone and email during business hours. Additionally, those on leave must be ready to report back to work within one business day if requested.
This unprecedented move has left many journalists uncertain about their careers, while press freedom advocates fear that shutting down independent news sources could have long-term consequences for global information access.
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