Approximately 800 full -time employees in Voice of America are preparing for the worst after the US -funded international broadcaster is expected to issue notifications of mass completion this week, according to a report.
Four VOA employees, familiar with internal discussions, told Politico news page on Wednesday that network employees have been advised to expect landing announcements (RIF) in the coming days.
An old staff said conversations with officials at the US Global Media (USAGM) agency, which VOA supervises, indicate that the planned notifications will effectively close the historic broadcaster, Politico reported.
Removal writings follow the previous break of about 600 contractors earlier this month by the Trump administration.
An VOA employee said the agency’s human resources department had been informed that Rif’s announcements could be released in Wednesday.
The wave of cuts comes in the wake of an executive order of March 15 signed by President Donald Trump, who called for Voice of America and several other agencies “eliminated to the maximum in accordance with applicable law”.
The president has often attacked the broadcaster, calling it “anti-trump” and calling it “Voice of Radical America”.
VOA employees, however, claim that they have adhered to their mission to offer non -partisan journalist.
“Even if somehow the organization can survive in a form, it would take years for our newsroom to overcome the beating trauma just to do our job,” said White White House office chief Patsy Widakuswara, one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the administration.
“I don’t know how we can go back to our mandate to report facts without fear or favor.”
Since Mars, most VOA operations have remained dark. A limited number of employees have returned to the office in recent weeks, which employees believe is an attempt by Senior Usagm Advisor Kari Lake, a close Trump ally, to maintain the naked legal minimum required for agency operation.
The lake has also announced that the content of America’s color news network will now be distributed through VOA channels.
Despite the legal challenges mounted by VOA employees claiming that the closure violates the first change defense, a federal court of appeal last week refused to block administration efforts.
The US Federation of Government employees, representing VOA staff, has sought to bargain on RIF, but two employees say Usagm still should not respond – an action that could violate the collective negotiation agreement.
Usagm, the Government Efficiency Department and the White House all refused to comment.
While the latest staff departures look immediate, the website and god remain frozen in time. His most recent article is March 15 – the day the president’s order was signed.
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