In brief
The Trump administration has initiated plans to terminate around 500 employees from Voice of America, a pivotal media outlet established to combat propaganda during World War II. Acting CEO Kari Lake claims the decision will streamline operations and reduce costs, while critics consider it an infringement on press freedom. The proposed layoffs come amidst ongoing disputes over the agency's direction and management. Most of the targeted staff, mainly from VOA, have reportedly been on administrative leave since March. The situation escalates as lawmakers and advocacy groups scrutinize the legality and implications of these actions.
The Trump administration has moved to terminate almost 500 employees of federally funded news organisation Voice of America (VOA).
The step is the latest in President Donald Trump's drive to strip back the outlet, which the White House has accused of being 'radical'.
Acting CEO of VOA's parent agency, Kari Lake, said the decision would 'help reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service, and save the American people more of their hard-earned money.' A union representing employees called the step illegal in a statement to the New York Times.
VOA was set up during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda, and has become a major global broadcaster.
The outlet is overseen by the Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which said a total of 532 positions would be eliminated. The majority of those employees are from VOA, which would be left with 108 staff, according to a court filing.
In June, Lake announced 639 employees would be terminated, although the notices were later rescinded due to paperwork errors. Some employees also filed lawsuits to block the terminations.
The announcement late on Friday night came a day after a judge ruled the Trump administration had not followed proper procedures in its attempt to fire VOA's director, Michael Abramowitz. The judge also ordered Lake to sit for a deposition, where she would be questioned by lawyers.
The lawsuit was brought by a group of agency employees trying to block attempts to close down VOA.
'We find Lake's continued attacks on our agency abhorrent,' they said in a statement to the BBC's US partner CBS News.
'We are looking forward to her deposition to hear whether her plan to dismantle VOA was done with the rigorous review process that Congress requires. So far we have not seen any evidence of that, and as such we will continue to fight for what we believe to be our rights under the law.'
Most of VOA's journalists have been on administrative leave since March but some Farsi-speaking staff were called back as war between Israel and Iran broke out this summer.
The notices will also not affect journalists working in its Office of Cuba Broadcasting division, which broadcasts news in Spanish from Miami.
Critics say Trump's attempts to strip back VOA amount to an attack on press freedom, and impacts America's ability to exercise soft power abroad. The administration has accused the outlet of being 'anti-Trump' and 'radical'.
VOA broadcasts TV, radio and digital content in almost 50 languages.
