The Trump administration has announced the dismissal of 532 employees from Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. federally funded international broadcaster. According to international media, the move is seen as part of broader efforts to shut down the agency.
Earlier, the White House had accused VOA of promoting “extremist” views. Acting CEO Carrie Lake stated that the decision aims to reduce federal bureaucracy, improve the agency’s efficiency, and save taxpayers’ money. However, the employees’ union has condemned the layoffs, calling the move “illegal.”
Established during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA is now one of the world’s largest international broadcasters, delivering news in nearly 50 languages across television, radio, and digital platforms.
In June, Lake had announced plans to lay off 639 employees, but that attempt was stalled due to paperwork errors and lawsuits filed by several staff members. On Friday, a court ruled that the administration had failed to follow due process when dismissing VOA Director Michael Abramowitz and ordered Lake to testify in connection with the case.
Several VOA employees have taken legal action in an attempt to block the shutdown of the organization.
Sources: The Guardian, BBC, Los Angeles Times.