Voice of America (VOA),, the U.S. government-funded international broadcaster, is facing an unprecedented crisis. Journalists have been cut off from their newsrooms—emails shut down, phones disconnected, and no way to reach editors—leaving many in a state of uncertainty. Steve Herman, Chief National Correspondent for VOA, finds himself among more than 1,300 colleagues placed on excused absence. While Herman was singled out under an executive order deeming him potentially disloyal to the president’s foreign policy, his colleagues’ suspensions were not linked to any alleged wrongdoing. As the shutdown stretches on, audiences once served by VOA’s trusted reporting are turning elsewhere, raising questions about the future of one of America’s most enduring journalistic institutions.
“I have not been relieved of my title or fired from my job, but since February 28th, slightly before 1,300 of my colleagues were given similar notices, I was informed that I was immediately placed on excused absence,” Herman explained. The cause was an executive order signed by the president, which deemed those considered disloyal to the president’s foreign policy as eligible for suspension or dismissal.
Despite being technically a foreign service officer under the US Agency for Global Media, Herman identifies first and foremost as a journalist. He emphasized that the fundamental principle guiding his work is the VOA Charter, which mandates that VOA operate as a fair and balanced news organization. “We operate under a charter, which is also a law that we must be a fair and balanced news operation. And we must tell both sides of America’s story,” he said.
Why VOA still matters
When asked whether VOA remains relevant in today’s media environment, Herman firmly stated that the organization’s mission is as vital as ever, particularly given the rising tide of misinformation and disinformation. “It’s relevant because, as you well know, there’s a lot of disinformation and misinformation floating out there. But we’re not a commercial operation, we’re not ratings-driven. We broadcast in languages that probably no one else does,” he explained.
He cited examples of VOA’s unique role in broadcasting to marginalized or oppressed communities, including the Rohingya refugees and the Tibetan population. “We broadcast in Tibet, we broadcast in Burmese. And in those languages, there may be no independent credible voice, whether it’s radio, television, the internet, or whatever,” he said.
VOA’s global reach encompasses thousands of affiliates from Indonesia to North Korea, delivering news in almost 50 languages. Herman described the organization as a “United Nations of broadcasting,” where journalists from diverse backgrounds, including those who fled persecution, work together to deliver accurate and reliable news.
When asked about the international reaction to VOA’s shutdown, Herman noted the unsettling response from authoritarian states. “Ask yourself—why is the state-controlled press and the Kremlin, and why is the Chinese foreign ministry celebrating this?” he questioned.
Fighting for the mission
Herman remains steadfast in his commitment to VOA’s mission despite the uncertainty surrounding the organization’s future. “When I joined the Voice of America, I swore an oath to the Constitution. I did not swear an oath to whoever was president at the time or to a political party. In my conscience, I cannot swerve from that oath that I took,” he said.
Legal battles have already begun, with some favorable rulings for employees of other federal agencies who faced similar challenges. However, many of these cases are likely to proceed to the Supreme Court, which could set a precedent for the future of publicly funded media. “As far as VOA right now, it’s, at best, in a deep coma on life support—if there’s any life left there,” Herman remarked.
Herman acknowledged that the damage may already be done. With programming off the air for nearly a week, audiences are likely shifting to other sources, including state-controlled media from authoritarian governments. “The vacuum is going to be filled by voices from Beijing, from Moscow, from Pyongyang, from Tehran. And that’s why it’s critical for us to get back on the air as soon as possible,” he said.
Looking ahead, Herman expressed hope that the judicial system will recognize the urgency of the situation and act swiftly. “I would hope that the courts consider these cases the same way that they would consider a death penalty case—something that needs to be decided very quickly,” he said.
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