VOA employees placed on administrative leave as US govt cuts budget; US shouldn't immerse in cold-war style propaganda: expert

VOA was established during World War II as a propaganda broadcasting agency for foreign audiences and its prime time is during the Cold War. Since its primary focus and goal were ideological warfare, it did not prioritize the truthfulness of news. The social ethics, morals and responsibilities that a news agency should uphold were not within its scope of concern,

Kang Qiujie, Associate Professor at the Institute of International Journalism, Communication University of China, told the Global Times

However, this does not mean that the US will cease its ideological war against countries [it views as foes]. They will adopt other methods, because the previous approaches no longer meet the needs of today's information warfare. Many tricks were done too superficially and have been completely exposed. Therefore, using these institutions, with now notorious reputations, to continue this task may no longer achieve the desired outcomes,

Kang noted

VOA served as an official media outlet and an important propaganda mouthpiece for external communication, but it has published many reports that do not align with the values that current US administration identifies, such as profit-making, white dominance and serving Americans themselves. Therefore, the US government believed it must be downsized,

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times

Kari Lakeformer news anchor

We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,

the AP quoted Kari Lake, the former broadcaster who was appointed to run the VOA by Trump

The termination of RFA's grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space,

RFA president and CEO Bay Fang said in a statement

Attempts to defund @RFERL would be a massive gift to America's enemies, many of whom are already celebrating,

What they're saying ... Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty president and CEO Steve Capus said in a statement

Voice of America has been out of step with America for years. It serves as the Voice for Radical America and has pushed divisive propaganda for years now,

a senior White House official told Fox News Digital

I have monitored the agency’s bureaucracy along with many of its reporters and concluded that it has essentially become a hubris-filled rogue operation often reflecting a leftist bias aligned with partisan national media,

a former VOA employee wrote in an op-ed last year calling for the outlet's dismantling

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,

the EO reads

VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America’s story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny,

Abramowitz said

We’ve benefitted from strong bipartisan support throughout RFE/RL’s (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) storied history. Without us, the nearly 50 million people in closed societies who depend on us for accurate news and information each week won’t have access to the truth about America and the world,

Capus said on Saturday

Michael AbramowitzvOA director

I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,

VOA’s director Michael Abramowitz said on Saturday, announcing that more than 1,300 VOA journalists and employees, including himself, have been placed on administrative leave

For decades, Voice of America has delivered fact-based, independent journalism to audiences worldwide, often in places where press freedom does not exist,

Balsamo 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 Facebook

Voice 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 that

It 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 month

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 wrote

It'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

Practically everyone I know at Voice of America, from various departments and language services, received emails today informing them that they are being placed on involuntary leave for an indefinite period. This means that, as of now, Voice of America, which broadcasts in 49 languages worldwide, has ceased operations. It is not clear when and in what form it [the work – ed.] will resume and whether it will resume."

Quote from Yarysh

If you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately,

she added