THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2026 31 Inside the Voice I witnessed VOA operate at defining moments in modern history: the collapse of communism and the emergence of democratic systems in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the wars in the Balkans, the Orange and Rose Revolutions, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In each of these periods, VOA proved its worth. It delivered objective news and information, provided an unfiltered window into America’s democratic discourse and institutions, and explained U.S. policy in ways that helped foreign publics understand the stakes of U.S. engagement. Today’s global information landscape—marked as it is by disinformation, distortions of U.S. actions, rapid technological change, and rising authoritarianism—makes the need for such a voice clear. If VOA did not exist, it would need to be invented. The Trump administration justified its action by asserting that VOA was politically biased, unaccountable, and vulnerable to foreign influence. No independent investigation or systematic content analysis was conducted; assertion replaced assessment; and unsubstantiated allegations stood in for evidence. Senior officials claimed that VOA had broadcast anti-American news and suggested that future reporting should reflect positively on the United States. This framing fundamentally misunderstands journalism, treating accuracy and transparency as disloyalty and conflating the essential distinction between independent reporting and political control of VOA. By equating editorial independence with political defiance, the administration undermined an institution that had served presidents of both parties precisely by maintaining its nonpartisan integrity and fulfilling its statutory mandate. My own experience contradicts the claims of systemic bias and foreign political influence. As director of VOA’s Eurasia Division, responsible for coverage of Russia, Ukraine, the Caucasus, and the Balkans, I oversaw journalism grounded in rigorous editorial standards and constant internal scrutiny. As acting director of VOA in 2020, I had direct visibility into the work of all regional divisions. Had systemic bias or foreign influence existed, it would have been immediately apparent. VOA had robust internal checks; U.S. embassies monitored our broadcasts; and VOA journalists themselves would not have tolerated political manipulation. Like any large news organization, VOA occasionally made mistakes, but these were isolated and swiftly corrected through established editorial processes—evidence of a journalistic culture, not institutional bias. The absence of deliberation behind the decision to shutter VOA was equally troubling. There was no consultation with Congress, the foreign policy community, or American experts in international broadcasting. No one asked the essential question: What happens the day after? What replaces VOA’s reach, credibility, and influence? For decades, VOA was one of the most cost-effective assets in America’s global engagement. With a budget of roughly $250 million, modest by national security standards, it reached hundreds of millions of people weekly in 48 languages. Its mandate, enshrined in the VOA Charter, was straightforward: to provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive news; represent America’s diversity and values; and present U.S. policies clearly and responsibly. This dual mission was often misunderstood by critics, but it was precisely what made VOA effective. It was not propaganda; it was high-quality journalism practiced in full view of the public, and its credibility was the foundation of its influence. The consequences of dismantling such a vital institution are visible across every part of the world where U.S. interests are at stake. When U.S. Secretary of State James Baker congratulated the Albanian people on throwing off decades of communist rule in Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square on June 22, 1991, Chief of VOA’s Albanian Service Elez Biberaj, second from right, served as his translator. VOICE OF AMERICA
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