China Moves In as Voice of America Signs Off

What Is Voice of America?

Voice of America (VOA) is a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster that has operated since 1942, starting with German-language news to counter Nazi propaganda. Its founding motto was, “The news may be good or bad; we shall tell you the truth.” Over the decades, VOA expanded to reach over 100 countries in 49 languages, pushing back against Soviet disinformation during the Cold War and delivering news into tightly censored societies like North Korea, Iran, and China. It has long been viewed as a key pillar of America’s soft power.

VOA’s charter requires it to provide accurate, objective reporting, free from direct political influence, even as it broadcasts U.S. policy. That independence gave it credibility around the world, especially in countries where freedom of the press is restricted.

What Has Trump Done?

In March 2025, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order drastically cutting the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the agency that oversees VOA and its sister outlets, including Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The move slashed $900 million in funding, led to the dismissal or administrative suspension of most of VOA’s 1,400 employees, and halted most programming across all languages.

Kari Lake, appointed by Trump to oversee the retrenchment, called VOA “bloated,” “biased,” and “a national security threat.” During congressional testimony, she claimed the outlet had lost its way, producing “anti-American” content that no longer aligned with U.S. foreign policy.

Trump critics argue the move was a political purge disguised as reform. Many VOA journalists were abruptly fired or locked out of their offices, and the Persian-language service, a key voice into Iran, was reduced to just 30 to 45 minutes of programming per day. Yet from Trump’s perspective, VOA had become little more than a liberal echo chamber masquerading as independent journalism. His response was to shut it down and cut his losses.

China Fills the Void

The sudden retreat of VOA has created a global media vacuum, one China has been quick to fill. In Indonesia and Thailand, Chinese state media reports are now the only content airing where VOA once appeared. Thai state-owned broadcaster MCOT replaced VOA segments with Chinese programming by May. In Nigeria, China Radio International now broadcasts in local languages like Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo, reaching millions with pro-Beijing narratives that emphasize economic growth and social stability.

In Ethiopia, Chinese and Ethiopian officials launched “China Hour,” a state-sponsored program showcasing Chinese documentaries, TV shows, and cartoons. In North Korea, China’s presence is rising just as 10 hours of nightly VOA broadcasts, one of the few external sources of news, were cut.

“It was an opportunity and [China] had to latch on to it,” said Emeka Umejei of the University of Johannesburg. Nigerian Information Minister Mohammed Idris noted that while VOA covered topics like human rights and free speech, Chinese media focuses on development and partnership, messaging that resonates in regions seeking investment and stability.

A Soft Power Surrender

Trump’s critics, including former VOA employees and foreign policy experts, argue the closure was self-sabotage. Steve Herman, VOA’s outgoing national correspondent, called the layoffs “an historic act of self-sabotage,” adding that it may be impossible to rebuild the outlet’s credibility and infrastructure if political winds shift.

Even conservative lawmakers like Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart agree that, while USAGM had grown too large, “it can be very, very useful and a very, very important tool of our national interest.” Some Republicans are now pushing to replace the agency with a leaner, more disciplined broadcaster that still counters authoritarian narratives abroad.

Was VOA Broken or Just Misused?

There’s little doubt that VOA needed reform. Independent reviews in 2023 and 2024 cited problems, including the use of a staged video by the Chinese-language service and poor context in some stories. But the same reviews also found that VOA’s Russian, Chinese, and Persian services were “generally fair and accurate.”

Kari Lake’s claim that slashing 75% of VOA’s staff made it more efficient was met with scorn. “No credible journalist would say that,” said a former employee. Others noted that silencing VOA has left America defenseless in the information wars playing out in authoritarian states.

Robert Daly, former director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute, said halting broadcasts into China amounted to “giving up on having an impact on public opinion.” In Iran, where millions once relied on Radio Farda and VOA Persian for independent news, state propaganda now dominates without challenge.

One Iranian journalist noted that after layoffs, some VOA staff were pressured to return briefly before being terminated, an act described as “sabotage of morale and credibility.” Others are now under renewed surveillance, as their families in Iran are harassed by the regime.

Trump May Be Right, But Perhaps a Do-over is in Order

It’s fair to say that VOA, like many government agencies, had drifted from its original mission. Conservatives had long warned that its independence led to unaccountable bias. President Trump was right to question whether taxpayers should support programming that might undermine American interests abroad.

But instead of reforming VOA, streamlining operations, rooting out partisan bias, and tightening alignment with foreign policy, Trump chose to dismantle it entirely. That opened the door for China, Iran, and other regimes to dominate the global narrative, precisely when media influence has become a weapon of 21st-century geopolitics.

Now, America’s microphone has gone silent. And its adversaries are broadcasting loud and clear.

NP Editor: I was in a briefing by VOA many years ago, I made a glib comment about propaganda. They told me the best propaganda is always the truth. This stuck with me.

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