Donald Trump is facing accusations that his administration has gutted Voice of America after a sweeping 2026 restructuring placed more than 1,042 of the broadcaster’s 1,147 employees on paid leave. The changes followed Trump’s executive order reducing Voice of America’s parent agency to the minimum allowed by law, according to reporting cited by The New Yorker. The overhaul began after Trump removed six of the seven members of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board, which plays a role in approving Voice of America’s director. Trump then backed Kari Lake , a former television anchor, to lead the agency despite reported legal concerns surrounding the appointment. Did Voice of America Go Quiet? Lake initially said she wanted to preserve honest journalism while planning for the broadcaster’s future. Her subsequent implementation of Trump’s order resulted in mass paid leave, the cancellation of Voice of America’s new headquarters lease, and instructions for transmitter site workers to shut down operations, actions that reportedly silenced the 83 year old broadcaster for the first time. The remaining newsroom has also faced tighter editorial controls, particularly during the war in Iran. According to the report, Voice of America’s Persian Service must now obtain approval from Kari Lake’s appointee, Ali Javanmardi, for every guest appearance, whether live, prerecorded, or included as a soundbite. Former Voice of America journalists say the cuts have carried an emotional and professional cost, while some former staffers have found work elsewhere. “Nothing exists anymore,” one ex reporter told The New Yorker, adding that the organization’s identity disappeared almost instantly; other former employees previously filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of reshaping Voice of America into a propaganda outlet.