Trump plans to eliminate over 500 positions at Voice of America and its associated agency, facing potential legal obstacles
In a series of recent developments, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has announced job cuts for more than 500 employees, including those at Voice of America (VOA).
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the administration to provide one final opportunity to demonstrate compliance with his orders to restore VOA's operations. This comes after the judge had previously ruled that the Republican administration had failed to show how it was complying with his orders.
Kari Lake, who is a former news anchor and an American political figure, but as of now, does not hold any official position within the US government, announced the latest round of job cuts. In June, layoff notices were sent to more than 600 agency employees, and VOA's director, Michael Abramowitz, was placed on administrative leave along with almost the entire VOA staff, with a termination effective Aug. 31.
However, the employees have stated that so far, they have not seen any evidence of the required review process for Abramowitz's removal, which, according to Judge Lamberth, requires the approval of the majority of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
The USAGM, which oversees VOA and other government-funded international broadcasters such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and Radio Marti, currently has 137 "active employees" and 62 other employees on administrative leave. VOA, on the other hand, has 86 active employees and 512 others on administrative leave.
The agency employees' lawsuit aims to block the elimination of VOA and questions whether Lake's plan to dismantle VOA was done with the required rigorous review process by Congress. The group of agency employees who sued to block VOA's elimination has been given 30 days until their pay and benefits end due to Lake's move.
Judge Lamberth also ordered Lake to sit for a deposition by lawyers for agency employees by Sept. 15. Lake, in response, posted a statement on social media that the agency initiated a reduction in force, or RIF, eliminating 532 jobs for full-time government employees.
Lake expressed excitement about taking additional steps to improve the functioning of the agency and ensuring America's voice is heard abroad. She stated that the agency "will continue to fulfill its statutory mission after this RIF- and will likely improve its ability to function."
Tensions have risen between Gabbard and the CIA chief following her disclosure of an undercover officer’s name, but this fact is not directly related to the U.S. Agency for Global Media job cuts.
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