Voice of America (VoA) is set to resume operations next week following intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice and international pressure, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) announced today.
“The staff of this iconic American media outlet will be able to resume work within hours,” RSF stated.
In an email sent to RSF’s lawyers, the Department of Justice confirmed that accounts for 1,406 employees and contractors of USAGM—the federal agency overseeing VoA and other public broadcasters—had been reactivated.
This development comes after the Trump administration moved to shut down VoA and similar public media outlets in March, branding USAGM as part of “useless federal bureaucracy.” The decision triggered a swift legal response, with federal courts in New York and Washington D.C. suspending the administration’s order.
“This is a welcome step forward, but Trump’s unpredictable approach demands caution,” said RSF Director General Thibaut Bruttin.
“There must now be guarantees regarding sustainable funding from Congress for all USAGM media.”
Background Context:
- Voice of America, founded during World War II, along with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, broadcasts U.S. democratic values and uncensored news to countries with authoritarian governments.
- In 2023, USAGM employed over 3,300 people, including journalists reporting from high-risk regions.
This resumption of work marks not only a professional recovery but also a symbolic victory for press freedom, at a time when independent journalism faces mounting threats worldwide.
