By Annabella Rosciglione | Washington Examiner
The Trump administration fired around 600 employees at Voice of America, approximately one-third of its staff.
The layoffs targeted contracted journalists and some administrative employees. Voice of America is a news network funded by the federal government that provides reporting to countries that have limited press freedom.
Voice of America indicated that the Trump administration continued its push to dismantle the broadcaster, despite a court order requiring the government to keep it. Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, a plaintiff suing the government over its cuts, said in an email to his staff that he was “heartbroken” over the firings.
The now-fired journalists will have to leave the United States next month as their status in the country was tied to their employment. Abramowitz said some of the fired journalists are from countries with harsh punishments for independent journalists.
“Some of VOA’s most talented journalists have been [personal services contractors] — many of whom have escaped tyranny in their home countries to tell America’s story of freedom and democracy,” he said.