4 hours ago
3
Voice of America is the largest US government-funded international broadcaster and hundreds of employees have been laid off in a fresh round of firings. A top Democrat called it a "dark day for the truth."
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGBY
VOA was founded during World War II Image: Annabelle Gordon/Sipa USA/picture allianceWhat you need to know
- Trump administration lays off 639 employees at Voice of America and its parent org the US Agency for Global Media
- Trump says US doesn't need to meet 5% defense spending target ahead of NATO summit
- Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil released after over 3 months in custody
Below is a roundup the latest developments in the US on Saturday June 21, 2025:
06/21/2025June 21, 2025
Trump administration lays off hundreds at Voice of America
The Trump administration on Friday laid off 639 employees at US public broadcaster Voice of America (VoA) and its parent organization, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
VoA was established in World War II and aims much of its programming at countries under authoritarian regimes such as North Korea and Iran.
Kari Lake, a former television anchor and Trump ally who serves as the senior advisor to the USAGM, said the cuts are part of a "long overdue effort to dismantle a bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy."
Some 1,400 people have been fired at VoA and USAGM since March, Lake said. Many VOA staff have been on administrative leave since March 15 amid legal proceedings.
Trump has attacked publicly-funded news outlets such as VoA and National Public Radio (NPR), claiming without concrete evidence that their programming is biased toward conservatives.
Europeans worried over Trump's cuts to public broadcasters
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGDg
Skip next section Welcome to our coverageWelcome to DW's coverage of current affairs in the US and the second term of President Donald Trump.
In addition to the latest news on the US, this blog will also bring you multimedia content, analysis and on-the-ground reporting from DW correspondents.
Stay tuned for more!
https://p.dw.com/p/4wGCg
