President Donald Trump’s administration on Saturday began to cut deeply in the voice of US and other government -run programs, with a press advocacy group saying that all VOA employees have been put on leave.
On Friday night, immediately after the Congress approved its latest funding bill, Trump instructed its administration to minimize the works of several agencies by minimal law. It included the US Agency for Global Media, which includes Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia and Radio Marti, which affects Spanish news in Cuba.
On Saturday morning, Curry Lake, Arizona’s failed governance, and US Senate candidate, named Trump, named a senior agency adviser, posted on X that employees should check their email. It agreed that notices of the notices to go out on administrative leave to the US staff.
“For the first time in 83 years, in 83 years, the United States” sound is being silenced. ” He added that the staff of the entire 1,300 people were “practically” on leave.
“VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world, especially for those who are under oppression, telling the story of the United States and objective and balanced news and information.”
A reporter, who spoke in a state of not disclosing his name because he did not have the option to talk to the press, said: “We expected something like this, and that happened today.”
Without reporters of the Press Advocacy Group, borders said it “condemns the decision to leave the US as a protector of free information and demanded the US government to restore the VOA and urge the Congress and the international community to take action against this unprecedented action.”
The Agency for World Media has sent notices to eliminate grants for radio -free Asia and other programming run by the agency. The Voice of America transmits US domestic news to other countries, often translated into local languages. Radio Free Asia, Europe and Marti Beam News in regions such as China, North Korea and Russia.
“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant deal will be a huge gift for US enemies,” said Stephen Caps, Stephen Caps, the president and CEO of the network.
Jointly, the network is estimated to reach 427 million people. They meet the Cold War and are part of a network of government -run organizations that are trying to expand US influence and counter dictatorship, which includes another agency through Trump.
Thomas Kent, former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said Trump’s intentions for agencies are still blurred. He said that without the sources of these news, it would be so difficult for the country to receive its messages to the world.
“Without international broadcasting, the image of the United States and the Trump administration will be in the hands of others, including opponents of the administration, (and) countries and those who consider the United States as enemies,” said Kent, an international media adviser, said Kent, an international media adviser, Kent.
A video posted on X on Saturday is discussed in a video posted on X, which does not mention the mission of employees and Voice of America. His video was built in a lease -based building by VOA, described by the lake as a waste of money. She said she would try to break the agency’s 15 -year -old lease on the building.
“We are doing everything possible to cancel the contracts that can be canceled, more and more, is reduced, and make sure your dollar has no misuse,” he said.
The letter keeps the employees on administrative leave and says the staff will continue to receive salaries and benefits “unless otherwise informed.” He ordered employees not to use the agency for global media facilities and return equipment such as phone and computers.
The Trump administration has already taken other steps to gain its authority over the Voice of America, and the contracts have been canceled this week, allowing VOA to use content from free news organizations like the Associated Press.
The administration has also banned the AP from press ponds covering the president and has been able to accept responsibility that the news organization is a member of the pond, and the FCCCBS is investigating news organizations.
Trump’s ruling requires a decrease, including several other, less well -known government agencies such as Woodro Wilson International Center for Scholars, a non -party think tank, the United States’ Intransity Council for Impressive and Community Development Financial Institution Fund.
Matthew Lee, an Associated Press author in Washington, participated in the report.
