A group of Voice of America (VOA) employees is suing the Trump administration after President Trump dismantled the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the entity responsible for overseeing VOA and several other taxpayer-funded international broadcasters. The move, which the administration says was long overdue, has sparked fierce pushback from left-leaning media employees and unions who claim their constitutional rights were violated.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court by VOA journalists and staff, alleges the administration’s decision to shut down USAGM and furlough nearly 1,300 workers violates their First Amendment rights and disrupts international access to “unbiased journalism.”
What Happened
On March 14, President Trump signed an executive order officially dismantling the USAGM, a Cold War-era relic that had come under fire for promoting globalist narratives and partisan bias using U.S. taxpayer dollars. The order ceased operations of its subsidiaries, including VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and others.
For years, critics—including many within the conservative movement—have argued that VOA had strayed far from its original mission of promoting truth and American values abroad. Instead, under recent leadership, the agency had become another left-wing propaganda outlet funded by American taxpayers.
Trump’s Justification
The Trump administration made clear that the shutdown was about reining in waste, bias, and bureaucratic bloat. A senior White House official stated:
“We’re not going to continue paying hundreds of millions of dollars a year for government-run media that actively undermines our values and misrepresents the United States abroad.”
The White House emphasized that the move was not about silencing journalism, but about ending a bloated, unaccountable institution that had lost its way.
Legal Challenge Begins
The plaintiffs claim the shutdown will deprive foreign audiences—particularly in authoritarian regimes—of access to American viewpoints and news reporting. They argue the decision infringes on free speech rights and violates federal protections for government employees.
Supporters of the lawsuit claim VOA has long been a symbol of press freedom and a critical tool in countering disinformation from adversarial regimes like China, Russia, and Iran.
Critics Say It’s Long Overdue
Conservatives have praised the move as a long-needed correction. For years, whistleblowers and watchdogs raised concerns over biased reporting, lack of accountability, and political activism within VOA. Others point to how the agency consistently aligned with progressive narratives, even while being funded by American taxpayers under the guise of “neutral” news.
“The American people don’t need to bankroll a government media outlet that sounds like CNN with a passport,” one former USAGM official said.
What’s Next
While the lawsuit proceeds through the courts, the Trump administration remains confident in its authority to restructure and defund federal entities that have lost public trust. The executive order stands as part of a larger effort by President Trump to drain the swamp, dismantle bureaucratic waste, and restore integrity to institutions funded by the American people.
Whether the courts side with the Voice of America employees or uphold the administration’s right to rein in government-run media, the message is clear: the days of taxpayer-funded leftist propaganda are coming to an end.