Topline
The Trump administration announced Friday it’s laying off hundreds of staffers at the government-owned news outlet Voice of America, the latest in a slew of mass terminations that have been carried out across the federal government since Trump took office.
Kari Lake, who leads Voice of America (VOA), speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference ... More
Kari Lake, who heads the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), said in a statement Friday Voice of America sent out termination notices to 639 USAGM and Voice of America employees, part of a broader move to reduce USAGM’s workforce by 85%.
Only 250 employees are still working at USAGM, Voice of America and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting following Friday’s layoffs, Lake’s statement said, and officials at the agency have approved a plan in which only 81 employees will remain.
Voice of America is a media outlet funded by the U.S. government that broadcasts news and other information worldwide, providing coverage in more than 40 languages and ensuring accurate news in countries where the free press is more restricted.
Friday’s layoffs are part of a broader effort by Lake and the Trump administration to dismantle USAGM, with Lake claiming in March the agency was “not salvagable” and pledging to “drastically downsize” the agency “to the minimum presence and function required by law.”
This story is breaking and will be updated.