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VOA Journalists Issue Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
(MENAFN) Reporters from Voice of America (VOA) have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration and senior adviser Kari Lake, alleging that the sudden closure of the US government-funded network infringes upon the First Amendment and Congressional powers, based on media sources.
The legal action, submitted to a federal court in Manhattan on Friday, calls for the reinstatement of over 900 full-time workers as well as 550 contractors who were placed on indefinite leave, as reported by a news agency.
The lawsuit includes plaintiffs such as former VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara along with Press Freedom Editor Jessica Jerreat. Also joining the case is Kathryn Neeper, a senior official at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
Kari Lake, appointed by Donald Trump to oversee USAGM, has defended the shutdown, stating: "Waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant in this agency and American taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund it."
The shutdown has resulted in VOA’s website and streaming services being down for more than a week.
David Seide, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, criticized the action, stating: "Tragically, Kari Lake lives in the MAGA fantasy world, but she makes decisions that have real-world consequences for hundreds of journalists." The lawsuit has garnered support from press advocacy groups and labor unions.
Since its establishment during World War II, VOA has been funded by Congress and broadcasts in over 63 languages across more than 100 countries.
The wider USAGM network encompasses entities like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, as well as the Open Technology Fund. This lawsuit is part of a series of similar legal actions issued this week.
The legal action, submitted to a federal court in Manhattan on Friday, calls for the reinstatement of over 900 full-time workers as well as 550 contractors who were placed on indefinite leave, as reported by a news agency.
The lawsuit includes plaintiffs such as former VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara along with Press Freedom Editor Jessica Jerreat. Also joining the case is Kathryn Neeper, a senior official at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
Kari Lake, appointed by Donald Trump to oversee USAGM, has defended the shutdown, stating: "Waste, fraud, and abuse run rampant in this agency and American taxpayers shouldn’t have to fund it."
The shutdown has resulted in VOA’s website and streaming services being down for more than a week.
David Seide, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, criticized the action, stating: "Tragically, Kari Lake lives in the MAGA fantasy world, but she makes decisions that have real-world consequences for hundreds of journalists." The lawsuit has garnered support from press advocacy groups and labor unions.
Since its establishment during World War II, VOA has been funded by Congress and broadcasts in over 63 languages across more than 100 countries.
The wider USAGM network encompasses entities like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, as well as the Open Technology Fund. This lawsuit is part of a series of similar legal actions issued this week.
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