The US Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America (VOA) and other international broadcasters funded by the government, is proceeding with a significant reduction in its workforce, impacting over 500 employees. This move comes amid a prolonged legal battle concerning the future of these media outlets.
On Friday, Kari Lake, the acting CEO of the agency, confirmed the latest round of job cuts. This announcement came a day after a federal judge had blocked her from dismissing VOA’s director, Michael Abramowitz.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth had previously ruled that the administration had not demonstrated how it was adhering to his orders aimed at restoring VOA’s operations. His ruling on Monday provided the administration with “one final opportunity, short of a contempt trial,” to show its compliance. Lake was also instructed to testify in a deposition by the agency’s employees’ lawyers before September 15, reports AP/UNB.
In a ruling made on Thursday, Lamberth decreed that the removal of Abramowitz could not take place without approval from the International Broadcasting Advisory Board. He further emphasized that firing Abramowitz would violate the law. Lamberth, appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, deemed such a move “plainly contrary to law.”
In a statement shared on social media, Lake confirmed that the agency had begun a reduction in force (RIF), eliminating 532 full-time positions. Despite the job cuts, she asserted that the agency would continue to fulfill its “statutory mission” and might even be able to enhance its operations. “I look forward to taking additional steps in the coming months to improve the functioning of a very broken agency and make sure America’s voice is heard abroad where it matters most,” she stated.
Meanwhile, employees who had filed lawsuits against VOA’s dismantling expressed outrage over the cuts. They said that their colleagues would have 30 days to receive their pay and benefits before they end. “We find Lake’s continued attacks on our agency abhorrent,” the employees said in a statement. “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.”
Back in June, notices were sent to over 600 agency employees regarding potential layoffs. Abramowitz was placed on administrative leave along with most of the VOA staff. He was informed that his dismissal would take effect on August 31.
The administration filed a court notice on Thursday, detailing plans to send RIF notices to 486 VOA employees and 46 others within the agency. However, they intend to retain 158 employees from the agency and 108 from VOA. As of the court filing, the agency had 137 active employees, with 62 on administrative leave, while VOA had 86 active employees and 512 on leave.
The agency oversees several major broadcasting organizations, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and Radio Marti, which broadcasts Spanish-language news to Cuba. These networks, founded during the Cold War, reach an estimated 427 million people globally and serve to extend US influence and counter authoritarian regimes.
