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Full Screen Voice of America’s office building in Washington. Archive Image Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP/TT
US President Donald Trump has signed a presidential order to discontinue Voice of America and other US-funded media companies around the world.
The cuts affect the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which in addition to Voice of America also media companies such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia are included. In total, the organization has a budget of $ 270 million and over 2,000 employees. The stations have broadcasts in 49 languages all over the world and are expected to reach a total of 361 million listeners a week.
The presidential order is part of Trump’s plan to reduce the state apparatus and media companies have been ordered to cease all activities that are not statutory. On Saturday, a number of employees at the Voice of America received an email that they will receive paid leave “until otherwise announced” and that they are not allowed to go to work, Reuters reports.
Voice of America has been around since 1942 and was an important news source for listeners in the communist countries during the Cold War. Trump has been critical of the business since his first term and entrepreneur Elon Musk has also demanded it to cease.
In addition to USAGM, the cuts also affect six less well -known state operations, including one whose purpose is to counteract homelessness.