Voice of America employees sue Trump administration over dismantling

Employees at Voice of America (VOA) have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. This comes after President Trump issued an executive order earlier this month to dismantle the agency. The lawsuit highlights concerns that important news sources for many people around the world could disappear. The VOA employees argue that only state-controlled media would remain, leaving many without objective news coverage. The executive order signed by Trump targets several government offices, including the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA. His advisor, Kari Lake, has been assigned to help with this plan. The lawsuit claims the administration intends to completely shut down the agency. Lake recently told employees to check their emails for updates on their jobs. The U.S. Agency for Global Media stated in a press release that the agency is "not salvageable" and criticized it as a burden to taxpayers. The lawsuit argues that the actions against VOA threaten free speech and could silence journalism in the country. The White House has not commented on the lawsuit yet. The lead plaintiffs in this case are Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s White House Bureau chief, and Jessica Jerreat, a press freedom editor at the agency. Their attorney expressed concern over the impact these decisions could have on journalists.