A year after Trump administration cuts, Voice of America and its sister outlets are mostly shadows of their former selves - Poynter

"Begum Donmez Ersoz was in the hospital for high blood pressure, 29 weeks pregnant with twins, when she got her first termination letter from Voice of America. It was the scariest time and the hardest time of my life, Donmez Ersoz said."

"A year later, Donmez Ersoz and hundreds of other contractors have not yet returned to their roles at the USAGM-affiliated outlets. For many of them, their terminations are likely permanent."

"The loss of coverage has been a boon for authoritarian leaders abroad, say USAGM officials, as the outlets have had to cut staff and programming, with some halting production entirely at points over the past year."

Begum Donmez Ersoz, a former Voice of America reporter, faced job termination while pregnant with twins. After nearly seven years covering the White House, her position vanished following President Trump's order to eliminate USAGM-affiliated outlets. Ersoz struggled with her children's health issues and the loss of health insurance. A year later, many contractors remain terminated, while some full-time employees may return soon. USAGM-affiliated outlets have significantly reduced staff and programming, benefiting authoritarian regimes by limiting coverage.

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