Save VOA

VOA’s shutdown left an information vacuum that Russian and Chinese state propaganda now exploit. Retired U.S. Ambassador John Feeley says VOA earned trust through independent journalism that helped people think for themselves. #SaveVOA

“All of this is happening as leading democracies cut their own international broadcasters, from Voice of America to the BBC and Deustche Welle.”

Since it's Nobel season, here's a throwback to when former President of Poland and Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa spoke to VOA in 2012 about the role both VOA and RFE played in his country’s democratic reforms. #SaveVOA

"Maybe one of the best ways to measure the value of a free press, even with all its imperfections, is to look at countries that managed to get rid of their dictators by listening to programs like Voice of America." Read Rod Lorenzen's opinion here.

'There's a perception of “Voice of America is just American propaganda”. Well, no, it is not,' says Ann Cooper. #SaveVOA #JournalismNotPropaganda

The report detailed that the USAGM’s “reduction in operations was done without a detailed analysis of the cost or the impact on the organization’s overall mission.”

“…what Trump and his appointee, Kari Lake, unleashed was not reform but a rushed dismantling with little clarity about what the law required and what America needed.” Opinion by Muhammad Tahir ⬇️

“Like Stripes, Voice of America received government funding even as it sometimes reported unfavorably on the government.” Read more ⬇️

“The obscene waste of taxpayer money is sickening, but it hurts even more to know we destroyed our own soft power. How could you lose an audience of 360 million?” said Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s former White House bureau chief.

“It has never made any sense for USAGM to pay people and not get the benefit of their talents and commitment to telling America’s story around the world,” said VOA Director Michael Abramowitz. Read @washingtonpost.com report here 👇

"The report says USAGM could not show it weighed costs and benefits, used reliable data, updated its strategic plan, or planned for its workforce."

“The cuts reduced the agency’s ability to inform audiences worldwide and counter disinformation in countries with restricted access to independent news, according to the evaluation, which was published last week and publicized Tuesday.”

“The administration has robbed itself of a trusted voice the world listens to,” said Patsy Widakuswara who sued the administration. Read @nytimes.com report here 👇

“The reduction in operations diminished USAGM’s capacity to fulfill its core statutory mission of informing, engaging, and connecting people worldwide in support of freedom and democracy.“

Trump “has also sought to kneecap or muzzle government-supported media with track records of honest reporting,” including VOA.

“A federal judge earlier this year ordered the agency to reinstate hundreds of workers who were placed on leave and invalidated Lake's actions, creating uncertainty around the status of the lease.”

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are set to hold a major summit today — a significant event that VOA would previously have covered in 49 languages, including Mandarin. With VOA broadcasts dramatically scaled back, Chinese government media will tell the story with propaganda, not factual reporting.

If the State Department were to control VOA’s output, its news would be perceived as propaganda. Such a move would destroy VOA’s unique abilities, whereas keeping USAGM and the State Department separate would maintain the benefits of both.

As #UNGA meets in New York, former U.S. officials tell #SaveVOA that VOA’s truthful reporting strengthened American diplomacy—boosting U.S. credibility and helping global audiences understand American policy, culture, and values.

“It’s hard to overstate the impact on individuals,” said VOA director Michael Abramowitz, who helped set up the program. “These are people who worked for the government for years and they were dumped out into a job market that frankly is just terrible.” www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Five former U.S. diplomats warn that the world loses if VOA goes silent. They call VOA a trusted source of fact-checked news, hope, and American values—and say truth is the strongest defense against global disinformation. #SaveVOA

As we wait for Judge Royce Lamberth’s opinion after the September 16 hearing on whether the government is complying with his vacatur order to undo the decision to dramatically reduce VOA operations, here’s an update on where things stand. #SaveVOA

Looks like Judge Royce Lamberth is not happy with the government. The judge appeared to share the plaintiffs’ view that the government is not following his order. “Why are you stonewalling the court?” he said at one point. We share his frustration!

Is VOA really being restored? Let’s pack the court one more time and find out. Today, Judge Lamberth will hear arguments over whether the government has actually complied with his March 2026 order to restore VOA and why much of VOA remains shut down. For more info about the lawsuit, go to

VOA has been silenced for about a year-and-a-half, and the decline shows. Now, it can't even catch a fake video. ☎️ Call Congress and ask them to bring back Standards editor, Program Review office, and the rest of the staff currently still on administrative leave before more damage is done.

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, SaveVOA is reflecting on the critical role Voice of America long played in preserving U.S. national security, before VOA broadcasts were silenced in March 2025. #SaveVOA

Two years ago today, RFA journalist Nguyen Vu Binh was sentenced to seven years in prison in Vietnam. He is among six journalists affiliated with USAGM outlets detained there. Journalism is not a crime. Release them now. #SaveVOA

Former U.S. ambassadors and diplomats explain why VOA matters: It advances American interests, counters state propaganda, and provides global audiences with trusted reporting on U.S. policy, society, and culture. Its credibility was built over decades. #SaveVOA

For millions living under censorship, silence is dangerous. Press freedom advocates called VOA a lifeline of truth—and an antidote to propaganda—for audiences with no other way to know what’s happening in their own communities. #SaveVOA #rsfusa

"The same way shuttering most of Voice of America had a chilling effect, this, too, suggests a state-run media is what the Trump administration is longing for. (A court ruled in March that VOA should continue and reinstated many of the closed programs, however.)"

A federal judge ruled in March that Kari Lake, "tapped early last year to advise the USAGM, had acted unlawfully as she attempted to shutter Voice of America and lay off its more than 1,000 employees."

"Brought against VOA’s parent company, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Newhouse v. USAGM seeks to reinstate VOA’s editorial independence, which is protected by First Amendment principles and a firewall enshrined in federal law."

"Trump largely eviscerated the Voice of America and its parent Agency for Global media, eliminating efforts to provide the world with unbiased reporting about the U.S. Courts have since reinstated some of those operations."

Former U.S. diplomat James Carouso expressed concern that VOA Indonesian remains off the air while other language services have resumed operations. Without VOA’s presence, he warned, China’s influence in Indonesia could grow stronger. #SaveVOA

As important as it is that VOA journalists are being recalled back to work, a lawsuit aims to protect their right and the agency’s mission to do journalism and not propaganda. Plaintiff Ksenia Turkova explains. #SaveVOA

“Petrychka also said restoring the service highlights the importance of Ukrainian-language broadcasting to Voice of America's mission and expressed hope that additional staff members would soon return to work.”

“The agency was created to spread the story of freedom and democracy around the world. Now, with many of its journalists being paid to stay home, it’s delivering a very different message.”