Over 500 employees at the agency responsible for Voice of America (VOA) and other US government-funded international broadcasters will be losing their jobs, as announced by an official from the Trump administration. The acting CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Kari Lake, made the announcement on social media, stating that the USAGM has initiated a reduction in force (RIF) of a substantial number of its full-time federal employees. Lake expressed her anticipation in taking further steps to improve the functioning of what she described as a “very broken agency” and ensure that America’s voice is heard abroad where it matters most.
The decision comes despite a federal judge’s recent stop on Lake’s attempt to fire Michael Abramowitz as the VOA director, deeming his removal “plainly contrary to law.” Judge Royce Lamberth also ruled that the Trump administration had not shown compliance with orders to restore VOA’s operations. He gave the administration a “one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial,” to follow through and ordered Lake to be deposed by lawyers for agency employees by September 15. A group of agency employees suing to prevent the elimination of VOA condemned Lake’s latest move, expressing abhorrence at her continued attacks on the agency and expressing eagerness to hear her deposition regarding the dismantling of VOA.
The move to cut jobs aligns with Trump’s January order to withdraw federal funds and reduce the international broadcasting capabilities of Voice of America to a minimum mandated by Congress. The layoffs, affecting 532 employees, aim to contribute to the reduction of federal bureaucracy, improve agency services, and save American taxpayers money. USAGM oversees six entities, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and Radio Marti, all of which have roots in the Cold War era and were part of efforts to extend US influence and counter authoritarianism. The networks continue to operate under US government funding, with the latest actions sparking concern and opposition from employees and surely impacting the future operations of these critical information outlets.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/hundreds-at-voice-of-america-and-parent-company-to-lose-jobs/a-73823031?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
