Latest news with #SaveVOA
Business Mayor
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Trump administration fires nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America
The administration of Donald Trump has terminated nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America (VOA), the US-funded international news network known for delivering independent journalism to countries with restricted press freedom. The firings, announced on Thursday, appeared to defy a recent court order requiring the government to preserve strong news operations at VOA. The US president has criticized the news network and accused it of spreading 'radical' content. The cuts, announced on Thursday, affected mostly journalists along with some administrative staff and represented more than one-third of VOA's workforce. Among those dismissed are journalists from authoritarian countries who now face deportation, as their visas are linked to their jobs at VOA. 'Today is an incredibly difficult day as USAGM terminates many of our contractors who have devoted themselves to fulfilling VOA's congressionally-mandated mission to deliver factual, balanced and comprehensive journalism to the world,' journalists with the SaveVOA campaign said in a statement. 'Among those affected are J-1 visa holders who will be forced to leave the country within 30 days. Several of these journalists come from countries where they could be arrested or worse because of their reporting for VOA.' The group said the team was considering its next steps and remained 'committed to the goal of returning all employees to their positions'. The administration cited 'the government's convenience' as the justification for the firings, taking advantage of the workers' status as contractors rather than full federal employees. Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, called the move 'inexplicable' and said he was 'heartbroken' in an email to staff obtained by the New York Times. Abramowitz has filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from closing VOA. Read More Gary Lineker wins £4.9 million tax battle with HMRC The notification to employees told terminated staffers that they will be let go as of 30 May and instructed them to return their press credentials, badges and other VOA property by that time, according to the Hill. Kari Lake, a Trump ally and senior adviser at the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, defended the decision as legally permissible. Lake had previously denounced the agency as 'unsalvageable' and accused it of corruption without presenting evidence. The federal building that houses the VOA news outlet in Washington DC was also listed for sale on Thursday. skip past newsletter promotion Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. after newsletter promotion Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate foreign relations committee, issued a statement in response to the firings: 'The Trump administration's gutting of Voice of America threatens access to independent media in places where it is needed most,' the statement reads. 'It deeply weakens a critical and cost-effective tool of American influence and soft power. If Voice of America is silenced, PRC and Russian propaganda and lies will fill the void. To add more fuel to the fire, Kari Lake's recent announcement that the Voice of America will now become a conduit for One America News Network is a gift to Russia and propagandists everywhere.' She added: 'Firing respected independent journalists and employees is as strategically shortsighted as it is heartless. The Trump administration's efforts to gut and de-fund independent media will only harm the United States in the long run.' The firings are the latest in a string of moves by the Trump administration targeting independent news organizations. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump appointee and the Project 2025 author Brendan Carr, has ordered investigations into NPR and PBS. Trump is also in an ongoing legal battle with 60 Minutes and CBS, and his administration previously barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration fires nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America
The administration of Donald Trump has terminated nearly 600 contractors at Voice of America (VOA), the US-funded international news network known for delivering independent journalism to countries with restricted press freedom. The firings, announced on Thursday, appeared to defy a recent court order requiring the government to preserve strong news operations at VOA. The US president has criticized the news network and accused it of spreading 'radical' content. The cuts, announced on Thursday, affected mostly journalists along with some administrative staff and represented more than one-third of VOA's workforce. Related: Ice used 'false pretenses' for warrant to hunt for Columbia students, lawyers say Among those dismissed are journalists from authoritarian countries who now face deportation, as their visas are linked to their jobs at VOA. 'Today is an incredibly difficult day as USAGM terminates many of our contractors who have devoted themselves to fulfilling VOA's congressionally-mandated mission to deliver factual, balanced and comprehensive journalism to the world,' journalists with the SaveVOA campaign said in a statement. 'Among those affected are J-1 visa holders who will be forced to leave the country within 30 days. Several of these journalists come from countries where they could be arrested or worse because of their reporting for VOA.' The group said the team was considering its next steps and remained 'committed to the goal of returning all employees to their positions'. The administration cited 'the government's convenience' as the justification for the firings, taking advantage of the workers' status as contractors rather than full federal employees. Michael Abramowitz, the director of VOA, called the move 'inexplicable' and said he was 'heartbroken' in an email to staff obtained by the New York Times. Abramowitz has filed a lawsuit to stop the Trump administration from closing VOA. The notification to employees told terminated staffers that they will be let go as of 30 May and instructed them to return their press credentials, badges and other VOA property by that time, according to the Hill. Kari Lake, a Trump ally and senior adviser at the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, defended the decision as legally permissible. Lake had previously denounced the agency as 'unsalvageable' and accused it of corruption without presenting evidence. The federal building that houses the VOA news outlet in Washington DC was also listed for sale on Thursday. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate foreign relations committee, issued a statement in response to the firings: 'The Trump administration's gutting of Voice of America threatens access to independent media in places where it is needed most,' the statement reads. 'It deeply weakens a critical and cost-effective tool of American influence and soft power. If Voice of America is silenced, PRC and Russian propaganda and lies will fill the void. To add more fuel to the fire, Kari Lake's recent announcement that the Voice of America will now become a conduit for One America News Network is a gift to Russia and propagandists everywhere.' She added: 'Firing respected independent journalists and employees is as strategically shortsighted as it is heartless. The Trump administration's efforts to gut and de-fund independent media will only harm the United States in the long run.' The firings are the latest in a string of moves by the Trump administration targeting independent news organizations. The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump appointee and the Project 2025 author Brendan Carr, has ordered investigations into NPR and PBS. Trump is also in an ongoing legal battle with 60 Minutes and CBS, and his administration previously barred the Associated Press from the Oval Office.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hundreds of VOA contractors set to lose their jobs
Hundreds of VOA contractors set to lose their jobs Hundreds of Voice of America contractors are expected to lose their jobs over the coming days, campaigners said, as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the US government-backed news service's parent agency. Most of VOA's roughly 1,300 staffers have been placed on administrative leave and its broadcasts suspended after a March 14 executive order gutted the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees US-funded international media. The Trump administration decided to terminate "hundreds of contractors over the following days," advocacy group Save VOA wrote on social media on Thursday night. Some of the terminations affect J-1 visa holders who will have to leave the country within 30 days, it added in a statement. "Several of these journalists come from countries where they could be arrested or worse because of their reporting for VOA," Save VOA wrote, adding that it was working with lawyers to try and reinstate the contractors. US President Donald Trump's appointee to oversee USAGM, Kari Lake, told the Washington Post that 584 employees across the federal agency had been terminated, the majority from VOA. "In accordance with President Trump's executive order dated March 14, we are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities," Lake told the Post. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Đăng ký Undo VOA director Michael Abramowitz said in a Facebook post that he was "heartbroken to learn about today's mass terminations of personal service contractors." "Some of VOA's most talented journalists have been [personal service contractors] - many of whom have escaped tyranny in their home countries to tell America's story of freedom and democracy," he wrote. VOA supervisory editor Fatima Tlis posted on social media on Thursday that her "entire team got terminated today, all of us granted political asylum by US administrations." "How does throwing on the streets the journalists you brought in on a promise of liberty and security help the American people?" she wrote. Almost all of the networks affected by the March executive order, including VOA have sued, accusing Trump of executive overreach. Created during the Second World War as an instrument of American soft power, USAGM is an independent agency tasked with promoting democracy and countering propaganda overseas through entities that include VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Before suspending service, Washington-based VOA broadcast in 49 languages to a weekly audience estimated at 354 million people. The White House has criticised the news service for its alleged leftist bias, dubbing it "Voice of Radical America" in official documents.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds of VOA contractors set to lose their jobs
Hundreds of Voice of America contractors are expected to lose their jobs over the coming days, campaigners said, as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the US government-backed news service's parent agency. Most of VOA's roughly 1,300 staffers have been placed on administrative leave and its broadcasts suspended after a March 14 executive order gutted the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees US-funded international media. The Trump administration decided to terminate "hundreds of contractors over the following days," advocacy group Save VOA wrote on social media on Thursday night. Some of the terminations affect J-1 visa holders who will have to leave the country within 30 days, it added in a statement. "Several of these journalists come from countries where they could be arrested or worse because of their reporting for VOA," Save VOA wrote, adding that it was working with lawyers to try and reinstate the contractors. US President Donald Trump's appointee to oversee USAGM, Kari Lake, told the Washington Post that 584 employees across the federal agency had been terminated, the majority from VOA. "In accordance with President Trump's executive order dated March 14, we are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities," Lake told the Post. VOA director Michael Abramowitz said in a Facebook post that he was "heartbroken to learn about today's mass terminations of personal service contractors." "Some of VOA's most talented journalists have been [personal service contractors] — many of whom have escaped tyranny in their home countries to tell America's story of freedom and democracy," he wrote. VOA supervisory editor Fatima Tlis posted on social media on Thursday that her "entire team got terminated today, all of us granted political asylum by US administrations." "How does throwing on the streets the journalists you brought in on a promise of liberty and security help the American people?" she wrote. Almost all of the networks affected by the March executive order -- including VOA -- have sued, accusing Trump of executive overreach. Created during the Second World War as an instrument of American soft power, USAGM is an independent agency tasked with promoting democracy and countering propaganda overseas through entities that include VOA, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Before suspending service, Washington-based VOA broadcast in 49 languages to a weekly audience estimated at 354 million people. The White House has criticised the news service for its alleged leftist bias, dubbing it "Voice of Radical America" in official documents. bur-lb/tc
