Voice of America (VOA) workers filed a lawsuit in opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration and Kari Lake on Thursday after Trump ordered the company to be dismantled earlier this month.
“In many parts of the world, a crucial source of objective news is gone, and only censored state-sponsored news media is left to fill the void,” the VOA workers argued within the lawsuit.
Trump signed an government order in March that commanded the dismantling of seven authorities workplaces, together with america Company for International Media, which is the dad or mum firm of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Trump named Lake as a particular advisor to america Company for International Media after he gained the election.
“The second Trump administration has taken a chainsaw to the agency as a whole in an attempt to shutter it completely,” the lawsuit learn, in accordance with the Related Press.
Voice of America (VOA) workers filed a lawsuit in opposition to President Donald Trump’s administration and Kari Lake on Thursday after Trump ordered the company to be dismantled earlier this month. (Picture by Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto through Getty Photographs)
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“The non-statutory components and functions of the following governmental entities shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law, and such entities shall reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law,” Trump’s government order learn.
Lake instructed workers to “check your email” for extra data on the way forward for their employment in a put up on social media.
The U.S. Company for International Media and Lake issued a press launch on March 15 saying the company is “not salvageable.”
“From top-to-bottom this agency is a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer—a national security risk for this nation—and irretrievably broken. While there are bright spots within the agency with personnel who are talented and dedicated public servants, this is the exception rather than the rule,” the U.S. Company for International media’s press launch mentioned.
President Donald Trump stands subsequent to Kari Lake on stage throughout a marketing campaign rally at Findlay Toyota Heart on October 13, 2024 in Prescott Valley, Arizona. (Rebecca Noble/Getty Photographs)
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“What is happening to the VOA Journalists is not just the chilling of First Amendment speech; it is a government shutdown of journalism, a prior restraint that kills content before it can be created,” the lawsuit learn.
The White Home didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
“Tragically, Kari Lake lives in the MAGA fantasy world, but she makes decisions that have real-world consequences for hundreds of journalists,” David Seide, the VOA workers’ legal professional, instructed NPR.
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Patsy Widakuswara, the White Home Bureau chief at VOA, and Jessica Jerreat, the press freedom editor at VOA, are the lead plaintiffs within the lawsuit.
