USAGM Moves Ahead with Bureau Closures
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is advancing plans to close multiple overseas bureaus that handle news and editorial operations. This decision comes despite ongoing legal challenges regarding the downsizing of the broadcaster.
In a recent communication to Congress, USAGM’s acting CEO Kari Lake outlined the agency’s intentions to shut down bureaus in locations such as Indonesia, Kenya, and the Czech Republic. This action follows a judge’s April ruling that mandated USAGM to restore funding to Voice of America (VOA) and other external broadcasters funded by Congress.
The court order required USAGM to rehire workers and contractors let go following an executive order from the previous administration, which aimed to downsize the agency along with six others. However, the judge did not specifically require USAGM to keep overseas news bureaus operational, even while noting that lawmakers intended to support the agency in its mission to deliver reliable, factual news to underserved audiences globally.
In her memo, Lake stated that full-time employees at these overseas bureaus were no longer essential, as domestic coverage could be effectively managed by contractors, particularly during urgent news events. She emphasized that the closures would not diminish VOA’s capability to provide credible and independent journalism, deeming them as strategically planned redundancies aimed at saving over $30 million in taxpayer funds.
To mitigate potential legal ramifications, Lake clarified that the closures were not meant to reduce broadcast services in the affected regions. However, in September, a federal judge intervened, blocking her attempt to terminate independent contractors, indicating that doing so would conflict with USAGM’s obligations to offer news programming to underserved audiences abroad.
As part of these changes, USAGM is also winding down various shortwave radio stations that deliver news in English and other languages. These stations, located in key areas such as Germany and Botswana, have been vital for reaching audiences in regions where internet access and local media are limited. Shortwave radio can transmit signals over vast distances, making it an important resource for information dissemination.
In the wake of VOA’s potential reduction in services, other government-funded broadcasters in Europe, such as the BBC, have ramped up their international broadcast offerings. Meanwhile, citizens in countries like China and Russia are increasingly relying on state-run media due to a lack of alternative news outlets.
For more information on the implications of these changes, visit the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website.
As the industry continues to evolve, the impact of these decisions by USAGM will be closely monitored by professionals within the radio and media sectors.