An American judge temporarily arrested this Friday the measures of the administration of President Donald Trump to close voice of America (VOA), a global broadcaster financed by the government.
The district judge J. Paul Oetken issued a temporary restriction order in a case presented by VOA employees, their unions and reporters without borders (RSF) before a federal court in New York.
“We are very happy that the judge has agreed to freeze any other government action to dismantle the voice of America,” said Clayton Weimers, executive director of RSF in the United States. “We urge the Trump administration to defrost VOA financing immediately and to return to its employees without further delay,” he added.
The Government began this month the mass dismissals in VOA and other media financed by the United States as part of its plans to drastically cut the budget and workforce of the federal government.
Trump has cut the financing approved by Congress to the Usagm, the government agency that supervises VOA and other means financed with Washington funds. Among them, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, created by Washington during the Cold War to counteract Soviet propaganda, and Radio Free Asia, which operates in China and North Korea.
Another judge already granted a temporary restriction order against Usagm, after Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty challenged its decision to retain its budget of 77 million dollars by 2025.
Voice of America, created during World War II, transmits in 49 languages worldwide with the mission of reaching countries without press freedom. With VOA in Limbo, some of their services have begun to play music because of the lack of new programs.
Moscow and Beijing have welcomed with satisfaction the decision to silence the media backed by the United States, considered for decades pillars of the influence of American soft power.
