The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has terminated the grant for «Radio Liberty», which funded the broadcaster's operations until the end of the year. The cuts also affected «Voice of America», with its staff placed on forced leave. Those who came to work on Saturday were not allowed into the office. This happened after Donald Trump signed a law to reduce the functions and operations of employees of seven departments to «combat bureaucracy». All of them are required to «reduce the performance of their statutory functions and related personnel to the minimum presence and functions required by law».
The management of «Radio Liberty» received a letter on Saturday about the termination of grants from USAGM. A copy of this letter was published by independent investigative journalist Tara Palmeri. The document is signed by former Arizona TV host Kari Lake, whom Trump appointed as a senior advisor to the head of USAGM.
The letter states that the grants are terminated as of March 15, and all remaining funds must be returned.
«Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk will celebrate the fall of «Radio Liberty» after 75 years. If we give victory to our opponents, it will make them stronger and America weaker», wrote the president and CEO of «Radio Liberty» Steven Capus. «Radio Liberty» informed employees that it would appeal the decision.
«Voice of America» employees received a letter stating that they are being placed on paid leave. A copy of the letter was published by New York Times journalist David Enrich. According to him, the decision affected all full-time employees of Voice of America and Office for Cuba Broadcasting, totaling more than 1000 people. Director of «Voice of America» Michael Abramowitz stated that almost all 1300 employees have been placed on administrative leave, making further work impossible.
Journalist of the Ukrainian service of «Voice of America» Ostap Yarysh also confirmed on social media X that employees from various language services were placed on indefinite leave, so «at the moment VOA, broadcasting in 49 languages worldwide, has suspended all its activities».
Meanwhile, a message titled «Voice of Radical America» was published on the White House website, accusing «Voice of America» of «radical propaganda». The message includes a link to an article by The Daily Caller, claiming that «several reporters of Voice of America published anti-Trump content on social media».
The entire press release consists of scattered links to various media and social media accounts with accusations. For instance, «in July 2020, «Voice of America» was criticized for «sharing a story and video that seemed too favorable to the presumed Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden», the message states. The statement also mentions material from The National Review, stating that «Voice of America» employees were instructed not to call Hamas and its members terrorists, «except when quoting statements». Additionally, the White House officially reported that in March 2019, a segment about transgender migrants seeking asylum in the US was aired on «Voice of America».
Earlier, Elon Musk called for the closure of «Radio Liberty» and «Voice of America», funded by the US government, as «Europe is already free» and «these media are «no longer listened to by anyone».
* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent» and «undesirable» organization.