The Trump administration is reportedly planning to shut down the broadcasting giant, Voice of America (VOA) in an effort to “cut costs.” VOA is an independently funded entity, but it’s funded by the US government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). Reportedly, the BBG’s five members were recently all removed from their positions in an effort to facilitate the shutdown. “We looked at all of these entities, including the Voice of America, and we’re frankly looking at the whole situation where we have numerous agencies and duplication of effort,” said White House spokesperson Sean Spicer during a press briefing this week. “We’d like to streamline government, get rid of unnecessary agencies and pull back on that redundancy.” The BBG has released a statement calling the removal of its members “a unexpected development.” “The Board is responsible for providing strategic oversight, establishing policy, advising the CEO, and hiring and removing the CEO,” said the BBG in its statement. “The White House has not communicated any intent to replace board members but if that happens, it would undermine the law’s specification specifically to ensure bipartisanship and independence as mandated by the House and Senate. The BBG statement went on to say that “In 1994, Congress passed a landmark public law to reorganize U.S. international broadcasting. That law directed that reframing of U.S. broadcasting operations should be bipartisan, and that law should be enforced.” Critics argue that by shutting down VOA, the American people will be left without specific news sources that report on foreign news sources. “As outlandish as it might seem to some today, U.S. taxpayers in fact fund a range of organizations, including broadcast ones, dedicated entirely foreign policies,” writes Freedom House vice president Susan Corke. “Some of these organizations, the most recognizable of which is the Voice of America, specialize in broadcasting to the world in the nation’s interest.” In a statement released on Wednesday, Voice of America’s Director David S. Bitnell called the idea that VOA needs to be shut down “disheartening,” adding that “VOA and its BBG are respected by listeners, respected by employees, respected by congressional leaders.”
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