Trump Orders Shutdown of Government-Funded Media Amid Propaganda Accusations

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S.'s state-funded media outlet, Voice of America (VOA), accusing it of spreading biased reports and divisive propaganda. The decision was part of a broader move to reduce government bureaucracy.

A senior White House official described VOA as being "out of step with America for years" and referred to it as the "Voice for Radical America." Trump’s order also targets six other government entities, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization of VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The executive order stated that the non-essential components of these agencies should be eliminated to the maximum extent permitted by law, minimizing their functions and personnel. Kari Lake, a former news anchor and Trump-endorsed Republican political candidate, who was recently named as VOA’s next chief, informed employees to "check their email" for updates on their employment status. Reports suggest many employees were terminated over the weekend.

VOA has faced scrutiny for allegedly promoting biased content. One incident cited involved the outlet’s coverage of Hamas, where it reportedly failed to highlight Gaza residents cheering as the terrorist group displayed coffins holding the remains of Israeli hostages. Critics, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, lambasted the agency for what they called "sanitizing" Hamas and pushing terrorist propaganda.

VOA’s troubles don’t end there. Over the years, it has been criticized for publishing articles like "What Is 'White Privilege' and Whom Does It Help?" and running content that resembled campaign material for then-presidential candidate Joe Biden. It even faced backlash for downplaying the Hunter Biden laptop controversy during the 2020 election.

One former VOA employee described the outlet as a "hubris-filled rogue operation" that mirrored partisan media biases and avoided accountability for journalistic violations. The agency has long been a lightning rod for criticism, with calls for its dismantling growing louder in recent years.

Trump's decision to shut down VOA and other agencies marks a significant moment in his continued battle against what he perceives as left-leaning biases in federally funded institutions. Whether this move truly reduces government waste or stirs up further controversy, only time will tell.