Voice of America’s Kurdish-language radio service was officially shut down on 21 June, ending 33 years of broadcasts in Kurmanji and Sorani Kurdish dialects that reached Kurdish communities across the region and the diaspora.
Launched in 1992 with only 15 minutes of programming, the service expanded significantly over the years and played a key role in delivering news and analysis to Kurdish-speaking audiences. Its termination marks a significant shift for Kurdish media representation on international platforms.
The closure came as part of a broader restructuring that affected 639 Voice of America employees, including veteran Kurdish journalists Robîn Reşvan and Mutlu Civiroğlu. Both figures had been integral voices in the service, helping shape its identity and impact.
On 21 June, Civiroğlu wrote on social media: “After 16 years, my journey at Voice of America has come to an end following a RIF [reduction in force] notification. It’s not easy to say goodbye to a place where I dedicated so many years of my life. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked on the front lines of journalism—covering complex international stories, especially the Kurdish issue, and giving voice to communities too often ignored. It’s been a challenging, meaningful and deeply personal mission.”
Reşvan, who had also worked with the service for 16 years, shared his own farewell, noting: “It’s never easy to say goodbye—especially to a place where I’ve poured in so many years, so much energy and passion,” he said. “Throughout my tenure at VOA, I’ve worked with brilliant journalists, tackled complex global topics—especially the Kurdish question—and amplified voices rarely heard.”
This development follows a decree by President Donald Trump, who criticised Voice of America for allegedly not aligning with the White House’s media priorities.
On March 14, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order directing that the U.S. Agency for Global Media be eliminated ‘to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law’, along with several other agencies. Trump’s administration had long accused VoA of not reflecting what he considered US interests, ultimately leading to the service-wide shutdown. As a result, all language sections, including the Kurdish service, were discontinued.
