The Voice of America is being silenced

The Voice of America is under threat. A top advisor to the former president has taken big steps to shrink the agency. This agency is responsible for spreading news around the world. It's been a big part of U. S. efforts to share information with countries that don't have free media. The advisor, Kari Lake, has sent layoff notices to 639 employees. This is part of a bigger plan to cut 1, 400 jobs in total. Lake says the agency has been wasteful and needs to be smaller. She also claims it has security issues. This move has sparked a lot of controversy. Some employees say it's a blow to independent journalism. They worry that without the Voice of America, other countries will fill the gap with their own propaganda. The Voice of America has been around for a long time. It started during World War II. Its job is to share news with countries that don't have free press. This includes places like Iran and China. The agency also runs other networks like Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia. These networks have been sued Lake and the former administration. They say the cuts will hurt their ability to do their jobs. The layoffs are set to happen in September. This has left many employees worried about their futures. Some have even spoken out about the situation. They say they've dedicated their lives to serving the country. They also say they've been unfairly accused of wrongdoing. The agency's director has also spoken out. He says the cuts will harm the agency's mission. He's currently on paid leave. Lake is set to testify before Congress. The hearing will focus on the agency's problems. This is a big moment for the Voice of America. It's a test of how much the U. S. values sharing information with the world.