AFSCME and Allies Sue Trump Administration to Save Voice of America

Unions and Journalists Unite Against Trump Administration Over VOA Shutdown

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), encompassing the influential Voice of America (VOA), is at the heart of a legal battle initiated by AFSCME, a prominent labor union, along with journalists and federal workers. This lawsuit, filed against the Trump administration, seeks to prevent the agency's closure, which they argue threatens the integrity of independent journalism crucial to global audiences.

Established during World War II, the Voice of America was designed by Congress to deliver truthful news amidst widespread misinformation. Presently, VOA reaches over 354 million people weekly, broadcasting in nearly 50 languages across various platforms.

Lee Saunders, President of AFSCME, criticized attempts to silence VOA as "anti-American," emphasizing the role of VOA journalists in resisting censorship and oppressive regimes. He stated, “The voices and reporting of VOA professionals, including AFSCME members, are a beacon of freedom to people everywhere. We refuse to stand by as this administration violates the Constitution to obstruct their work and diminishes America's standing in the world as a leading democracy.”

VOA workers are represented by AFSCME Local 1418 under District Council 20. Wayne Enoch, executive director of AFSCME DC 20, expressed concern over the administration's actions, describing them as an "assault on journalists and our jobs."

According to the lawsuit, the administration's decision to suspend operations, lock agency doors, and halt reporting activities violates legal obligations and subverts journalists' freedoms and the separation of powers. The complaint, lodged in the Southern District of New York, asserts, “The VOA Journalists have devoted their careers to helping to build USAGM’s networks into a credible media force with global audiences in the hundreds of millions.”

This legal effort is supported by various organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), The NewsGuild-CWA, American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and several individuals represented by the Government Accountability Project. The collective effort aims to secure an immediate reversal of the agency's closure.

AFSCME’s Get Organized campaign continues to advocate for the protection of public services and workers' rights, opposing actions that threaten job security and press freedom.