Quotes
The Voice of America has been silenced, at least for now,
a veteran correspondent said
That mission is especially critical today, ... when America’s adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States.”
he wroteIt is critical we recognize our agency is funded by hardworking American taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet,
Lake wrote earlier this monthIt's not just about losing your income. We have staff and contractors who fear for their safety. We have reporters who work under the radar in authoritarian countries in Asia. We have staff in the US who fear deportation if their work visa is no longer valid."
A Radio Free Asia employee said
VOA needs thoughtful reform, and we have made progress in that regard. But today's action will leave Voice of America unable to carry out its vital mission,
he said on FacebookVoice of America has been a priceless asset for the United States, playing an essential role in the fight against communism, fascism, and oppression, and in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world,
he said, noting thatIf you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately,
she added
The Iranian ayatollahs, Chinese communist leaders, and autocrats in Moscow and Minsk would celebrate the demise of RFE/RL after 75 years,
its president, Stephen Capus, said in a statementHanding our adversaries a win would make them stronger and America weaker,
he saidEven if the agency survives in some form, the actions being taken today by the Administration will severely damage Voice of America’s ability to foster a world that is safe and free and in doing so is failing to protect U.S. interests,
Abramowitz wrote, noting
U.S. taxpayers shouldn’t be funding this,
the Rapid Response account saidThe decision to dismantle one of America’s greatest national assets will inflict profound harm on the U.S. image, its global interests, and the promotion of democratic values — damage that no adversary could ever achieve,
Elez Biberaj, who briefly served as Voice of America’s acting director and retired in 2023, said in a social media postFor decades, Voice of America has delivered fact-based, independent journalism to audiences worldwide, often in places where press freedom does not exist,
Press Club president Mike Balsamo wrote
From what we can tell, VOA is effectively shutting down from this moment".
David Enrich also cites statements from informed colleagues at Voice of America
Journalists there said the cuts [to staff with access to work] were so widespread that they would effectively shut down the international broadcaster,
the newspaper addsThis core work cannot be disrupted by DOGE,
they wrote in a statementGovernment contracting agencies shall, to the extent permissible by law, require Government contractors to disclose any business they do with Paul Weiss and whether that business is related to the subject of the Government contract,
the order says
This order continues the reduction in the elements of the Federal bureaucracy that the President has determined are unnecessary,
the order, disclosed late on Friday, says
We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,
said Lake, who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona governor
I moved today to cancel expensive and unnecessary newswire contracts for US Agency for Global Media, including tens of millions of dollars in contracts with The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse,
Lake said