Voice of America journalists sue Trump for violating free speech

Voice of America reporters and their unions sued the Trump administration, saying that the closure of US -funded news agencies violated the right of the first amendment to the free speech.

US Global Media Agency, its in -deputy director Victor Morales and special adviser Kari Lake set over 1300 employees and cut funds for some news services last Saturday.

It is reported that these actions violated the first amendment and the laws by which the Congress authorized and funded Voice of America, according to a complaint presented to the New York Federal Court, writes Reuters.

The cuts are part of President Donald Trump’s comprehensive push and billionaire Elon Musk to ‘shrink’ the federal government, which they say misdeed by US taxpayers’ money.
The lawsuit requires a court order annuling the decision to close the US Global Media Agency, which funds Voice of America and other media such as Radio Free Europe.

Rapid closure will encourage authoritarian regimes around the world, according to the lawsuit.

« In many parts of the world a crucial source of objective news has disappeared and only the state -censored news media sponsored by the state has remained to fill the void, » the plaintiffs write.

Otherwise, from its inception to combat Nazi propaganda at the height of World War II, Voice of America (VOA) grew up to become an international media broadcaster, operating in more than 40 internet languages, radio and television, spreading US news narratives in countries where the free press is lacking.

According to the complaint, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia had more than 425 million listeners each week before they were closed. /Telegraph/