Layoffs Hit Voice of America Amid USAGM Downsizing

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds Voice of America (VOA), has issued layoff notices to 639 employees, marking a total reduction of 1,400 positions, Orda.kz reports, citing The New York Times.

These cuts are part of an initiative to trim the agency to its legally mandated minimum, a move the agency says aligns with presidential directives to eliminate non-essential functions.

Only 81 positions remain core to agency operations.

Staff placed on paid leave will remain on payroll until September 1.

However, Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz has criticized the cuts, warning they threaten U.S. national security and confirming that VOA will pursue legal action to challenge the downsizing.

Original Author: Natalia Ovchinnikova