Voice of America silenced: 639 layoffs mark global blow to independent journalism

A Historic Collapse — Voice of America Gutted

In a sweeping move that signals the virtual shutdown of one of America’s most iconic journalistic institutions, layoff notices were sent to 639 employees at Voice of America (VOA) and the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on Friday. Since March, nearly 1,400 employees—approximately 85% of the agency’s workforce—have been let go, a decision senior Trump advisor Kari Lake called a “long overdue effort to dismantle a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy.”

“This spells the death of 83 years of independent journalism that upheld U.S. ideals of democracy and freedom,” said plaintiffs Jessica Jerreat, Kate Neeper, and Patsy Widakuswara, who are challenging the layoffs in court.

Among the hardest hit was VOA’s Persian-language service, vital in delivering unbiased news to Iran. Employees were abruptly pulled off air and, in a chilling scene, had their badges confiscated mid-shift, effectively being locked out of their workplace. Steve Herman, VOA’s chief national correspondent, called the layoffs “a historic act of self-sabotage.”

READ MORE: Voice of America (VOA) faces major budget cuts as US slashes government media funding

Media Bloodbath — U.S. Outlets Suffer Broad Cuts

Voice of America (VOA) is not alone in its crisis. Major U.S. newsrooms have also faced heavy cutbacks. In 2024 alone:

• CNN cut over 400 jobs in multiple rounds.

• The Washington Post laid off 240 staffers in a strategic restructuring.

• BuzzFeed News shut down entirely, cutting 180 jobs.

• Vice Media filed for bankruptcy, leading to hundreds more job losses.

This wave of media layoffs signals a shift in priorities, tighter ad markets, and growing political and economic pressures reshaping American journalism.

Global Journalism in Free Fall

Globally, the media industry is enduring one of its most difficult periods in decades. In Europe, the BBC announced it would cut nearly 1,000 positions by 2027. Al Jazeera, Deutsche Welle, and Reuters have all initiated layoffs, citing declining revenue, digital disruption, and political pressures.

According to the International Press Institute (IPI), over 4,500 journalists worldwide lost their jobs in the last year alone. Economic downturns, authoritarian crackdowns, and AI-driven content shifts have put unprecedented strain on traditional journalism.

With Voice of America silenced, many fear a gaping hole in trusted, independent U.S.-backed reporting across the globe. “Every day VOA is off the air is a day audiences build new habits—and forget us,” Herman warned.

The question now looms: Is this a media winter, or the start of an irreversible blackout?