Trump cuts off funding for pro-democracy media outlets VOA and RFERL

The administration of US President Donald Trump has launched a broad cutback of Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other government programmes aimed at defending democracy. The organisation's director said all Voice of America staff have been placed on "administrative" leave.

On Friday night, shortly after Congress passed the latest funding bill, Trump instructed his administration to reduce the functions of several agencies to the minimum required by law. These included the U.S. Global Media Agency, a budget-funded government organisation to which the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia, and Radio Marti, which broadcasts Spanish-language news to Cuba, all report.

On Saturday morning, Carey Lake, a failed gubernatorial and US Senate candidate from Arizona whom Trump appointed as a senior adviser to the agency, wrote on website X that employees should check their emails.

In another post she described the U.S. Global Media Agency as "the most corrupt agency in Washington DC."

The video released by Lake talks about cost-cutting measures but does not mention Voice of America's staff or mission. The video was filmed in a building leased by VOA, which Lake called a waste of money. She said she would try to terminate the agency's 15-year lease on the building.

"We're doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be cancelled, save money, reduce staffing and make sure your dollars are not misused," she said.

The letter places employees on administrative leave and says they will continue to receive pay and benefits "until notified otherwise." The letter instructs employees not to use the Global Media Agency's facilities and to return equipment such as phones and computers.

"For the first time in 83