Trump order directly impacts Voice of America, Radio Free Asia operations.
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order affecting operations at Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), including their Burmese-language services, as part of broader cuts to US government-funded media outlets, according to a report by BBC Burmese.
The order, which also targets six other federal agencies, directs the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to scale down its operations to the legal minimum, according to internal communications reviewed by Reuters.
Full-time government employees at VOA’s Burmese service received emails instructing them that they were being placed on immediate leave and should not report to work, sources familiar with the situation said. Employees who were in the office at the time were told to leave after receiving the notification. Live broadcasts on VOA Burmese’s social media platforms and website were no longer accessible to audiences, according to employees. It was not immediately clear how contract workers would be affected.
“I don’t know if I should go to the office or not,” said one contract employee, adding that they had not received any official communication. “The higher-ups themselves received orders not to come in, so all they could suggest was that contractors go and check for themselves. We don’t know what will happen next.” Alongside USAGM, Trump’s order targets other government agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the US Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The directive states that these agencies must reduce their operations to the “minimum presence and function required by law.” While the order does not explicitly dissolve agencies, it allows for a review process that could lead to further workforce reductions and operational changes. The extent of the impact on VOA Burmese and RFA Burmese remains unclear, with further developments expected in the coming days.
