‘Bloody Saturday’ at Voice of America and Radio Free Asia : NPR

Journalists today showed in the Voice of America to broadcast their programs that it was only said that they were shut down: Federal officials have launched a massive suspension indefinitely.

All the full -time staff at the Voice of America and the Office for Cuba Broadcasting, which runs Radio and television martAffected – more than a thousand employees. After this move A ruling late Friday night by President Trump That its basic agency, called the US Agency for World Media, must eliminate all activities that do not need by law.

In addition, under the leadership of Trump appointments, the agency has disconnected all agreements for the IT funds of privately involved international broadcasting agencies, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Network.

Notices for the elimination of funded networks, two of which were reviewed by the NPR, were taken to the signature of Trump’s senior adviser. Carey lakeWhich he kept in the USAGM, is not the acting chief executive of the agency. Does not appear in the lake His current job Get legal authority to carry out this suspension.

Grant Turner, a former financial officer of the US Agency for World Media, called it a “bloody week” for the agency and its networks.

‘Firezie just set it on fire’

“With what I hear, it is becoming a really tragic day,” said Turner. USAGM networks share important news, information and US values ​​around the world. ” “It took decades every week to build this goodwill and hundreds of millions of audiences. Only the volcano was on fire.”

Similar notices through the NPR have been received by contractors in the Voice of America today.

Voice of America Director Michael Abramotz refused to comment on him, but acknowledged that he was among those who were on a salary leave indefinitely.

The story is based on an interview with 16 and former employees and networks of the US Agency for Global Media and Networks IT Funds. Everyone, except the Turner, spoke on the condition that they would not be named because of fear of professional revenge. The NPR has reviewed internal information about suspension and deadly contracts. The USAGM and the White House did not respond to the comments requests.

Together, federal financial support -run broadcasters and their sister networks that cover the Middle East and Cuba Reach According to the agency, 63 languages ​​and 420 million people in more than 100 countries each week. They provide full financial support through the federal dollar.

Networks’ mission is to provide news coverage and cultural programming to places where an independent press is threatened or not present. They are also designed as a form of soft diplomacy, modeling free journalism, which includes disagreement with government policy.

Trump’s friends in Moscow and Budapest are angry with network coverage

Elon Musk, and other administration officials in Trump’s budget have called for the Voice of America and some sister networks to become. Shut down. The scope of these actions and legal status Are not yet in full attentionBut it seems that they are under strict control of politically appointed officials who are alive and whatever coverage they survive.

Trump kept the lake twice as a failed Maga candidate, Senior Advisor on USAGM. He did not respond to a detailed request to comment about the story. The USAGM’s Media Relations Team has not responded to the NPR’s repeated and detailed requests for comments about the progress made in networks, including today, in recent times. Conservative Media Critics, Permanently Choosing Trump to lead the agency L. BRANT BOZEL IIIThe US Senate has not yet been scheduled for verification hearings.

Broadcasters reporting has angered some powerful personalities abroad, including close links with Trump.

For example, reporting by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has upset leaders in Russia and Hungary, as well as their allies. Journalists of this network have been detained or detained by Russian -controlled Crimea, Belarus, Azerbaijan and I Russia.

Trump has influenced the passionate ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor and Ben.

A service with some two -way cooperation

Likewise, reports of Radio Free Asia about the persecution of Uighur Muslims by Chinese authorities helped bring international attention to their plight. In 2020, North Korean officials executed the fishing fleet owner to hear secret broadcasts by Radio Free Asia while in the sea, The network reported. Authorities brought 100 of his older people to see Tun Tuns as a warning of tuning risks.

A reporter for the English language Shanghai DailyUnder the control of the Chinese Communist Party, Acellit In progress: “Best News”, Andy Boram tweeted. He called Radio Free Asia “one of America’s most captained anti -China propaganda outlets.”

Despite severe criticism from the Trump administration officials and their allies on the Capital Hill, networks have gained a large number of bilateral support in the past years.

Former Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs House Committee, Michael McColl, told the NPR earlier this week in a statement that he appreciated the capability of USAGM networks to spread information in China that the ruling Chinese Communist Party was trying to block there.

“That’s why I strongly support many of its programs,” said McCowel. ” [Radio Free Asia] Provide daily updates about remote areas, maintain an independent press in authoritarian countries, and ensure Americans and people everywhere-our opponents are not subject to propaganda. “

Officials put pressure on networks after digging Dodge assistants

The suspended staff includes reporters, editors, managers-Washington DC journalists and people in the English language core news room who offer coverage and programs in dozens of languages ​​serving audiences around the world. Memo informs recipients that they can no longer perform their jobs, say the action is “not being taken for the purpose of any discipline.” This does not affect personal services contracts, which can be suspended or easily excluded.

Employees of the US Agency for Global Media also received this notification, technically “with full salary and benefits, unless otherwise notified,” eliminating all work -related activities and surrendering all government property, including equipment and records.

According to several people, three staff have been set up to take the government’s cost to deal with the cost of the government, to take access to their budget, social media and other activities in the agency. (They spoke in anonymity because of potential professional defects.)

In recent times, administration officials have already taken steps that have put strong pressure on networks’ ability to work.

Was agency Cut the contracts With great news services, including the Associated Press, the Agency France Press, and Reuters, which is used to complete the reporting of broadcasters.

It needed the money needed to meet Radio Free Asia, as the possibility of Furrulo was mobilized, such as Reported through the first Politico. Freelancers told the NPR that they have not been paid since last month as the assistants assigned to USAGM to USAGM have frozen funds.

And the lake intensified the pressure with its own rhetoric.

Lake waste claims challenged at the new headquarters

On Friday evening, before Trump’s order, Lake posted a new headquarters for the USAGM and a video of The Voice of America to discuss whether it was a model of profitable spending.

“I’m sitting here on the 13th floor of a shiny, newly beautiful skyscraper building that is falling at the price of you, taxpayers, a fortune,” Lake saidCamera footage delayed on features, including glass walls, interior waterfalls, and modern conference rooms. “Here is a cooker: They already have a building in which it is located, it is paid, that they could be renovated or updated.”

Former USAGMCFO Grant Turner says it has been found backwards. According to USAGM announces last SeptemberThanks to a slow real estate market due to lease, pandemic diseases, the federal government stands for 150 million in 15 years.

“This is a group of lies and false information from his mouth,” said Turner, who left the agency in January. “In fact, this is probably one of the best deals made by the tenant in DC history.”

Referring to concerns about revenge in the current climate, four USAGMs and Voice of America staff supported the Turner’s account on condition of anonymity. For one thing, they note, the new building is not new. It’s almost two decades old – Was built in 2006According to the general contractor of the project. For another, the old building was not “paid” – the agency is not owned by it. He said the agency received three years free rent at the new headquarters, and that he was taking the staff out of Old Wilber J Cohen Building, thus reducing the federal government its impressions and rent.

And the landlord of the new building paid $ 27 million to build the latest studios. This technically archaeological corner would have been necessary in the building – the existence of an existential question on networks is now absent.