FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2025
March 21, 2025
Journalists, Federal Workers, and Unions File Lawsuit to Challenge Closure of U.S. Agency for Global Media
The U.S. Agency for Global Media violated the First Amendment, separation of powers, appointments clause, and several laws when it suspended nearly all operations, says a new complaint filed by unions and workers
NEW YORK – Today, journalists, federal workers, and their unions sued the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), its Acting Director Victor Morales, and Special Adviser Kari Lake to challenge the unlawful shuttering of the agency and silencing of global media.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, asserts that the agency has failed to fulfill its legally required functions and violated both the freedom of journalists and separation of powers when it ordered staff not to report to work, suspended contractors, turned off service, and locked the agency’s doors.
The plaintiffs include the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), The NewsGuild-CWA, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and seven individual workers. VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara is the lead plaintiff.
Government Accountability Project, a non-partisan civil rights defense and whistleblower protection organization, represents the seven individuals. New York City law firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP represents all plaintiffs. AFGE, AFSCME, NewsGuild-CWA and AFSA are represented by Democracy Forward and their respective in-house legal departments. State Democracy Defenders represents RSF, AFGE and AFSCME.
Altogether, these actions amount to an unprecedented attack on the freedom of press and threaten the reputation and credibility of VOA journalists and all USAGM networks. The filing reads:
“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. They are dedicated public servants of the utmost integrity whom Defendants have maligned without basis as incompetent and, even worse, as ‘terrorist sympathizers.’ What is happening to the VOA Journalists is not just the chilling of First Amendment speech; it is a government shutdown of journalism, a prior restraint that kills content before it can be created.”
The plaintiffs seek immediate relief to reverse the shuttering of the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
This assault on VOA is an attack on international democracy and journalistic integrity.
“Voice of America was founded to spread the truth and fight propaganda from lawless authoritarian regimes—so it’s no surprise that the Trump administration is trying to dismantle it. This blatant political takeover isn’t just an attack on our members’ jobs—it’s an assault on press freedom, journalistic integrity, and democracy the world over,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley, whose union represents VOA and Office of Cuba Broadcasting employees. “These patriotic journalists and professionals have dedicated their careers to making sure regular people understand the truth, and AFGE will not stand by while this administration tries to silence them. That’s why we are joining this lawsuit with our partners—to defend our members, protect their rights, and uphold the truth they work tirelessly to promote across the globe.”
“The Voice of America was created to promote freedom of press and advance democratic values across the globe. Silencing this agency is nothing short of anti-American and a retaliatory attack on the independent journalists and workers who have dedicated their careers to fighting oppressive regimes and censorship. 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," said AFSCME President Lee Saunders.
“AFSCME members are proud of the work they do at Voice of America to develop and distribute free and independent news to hundreds of millions of citizens everywhere. The very existence of Voice of America is a testament to our nation’s commitment to protecting a free and independent press. This open assault on journalists and our jobs should alarm everyone, and we remain committed to fighting back whether we’re standing up to dictators abroad or our own leaders,” said AFSCME District Council 20 Executive Director Wayne Enoch.
“Our union was established by journalists to protect the workers that make a free press possible, and we are proud to continue that fight 91 years later,” said NewsGuild-CWA President Jon Schleuss. “America’s founders passionately believed that everyone has the right to free speech and a free press. The work of journalists at Radio Free Asia, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and other newsrooms ensures that these fundamental American freedoms know no borders. Journalists across the globe fight every single day to hold power to account, expose corruption and provide communities with life-saving news. We’ll do whatever it takes to support that fight.”
"The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for Global Media undermines America’s soft power and global credibility,” said Tom Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association. “Foreign Service members have long served as trusted messengers and conduits of a fact-based, independent press—core to our nation’s democratic values. AFSA stands firmly against any efforts that compromise this mission.”
“This is another tragic attack on democracy. Over eight decades, VOA and its sister organizations have been renowned, evidenced by the over 400 million viewers, listeners and readers who tune in every day. That reputation is now in tatters. Our lawsuit is intended to stop the bleeding,” said David Seide, Government Accountability Project’s Senior Counsel.
"Our firm is honored to represent these clients in this historic fight. The people who gather the news, who write the news, who deliver the news, and who operate the equipment that distributes the news are the lifeblood of a democracy. Without them, the landscape of ideas and information would be a desert. The Voice of America is many, many voices; we are committed to having those voices heard in court -- so they can get back to the business of speaking to the world," said Andrew G. Celli, Jr.
“Free press is important for every American and is a cornerstone of our democracy. The abrupt and unlawful shutdown of the U.S. Agency for Global Media is yet another step in an accelerating extreme and authoritarian playbook that benefits no Americans and fails to make anyone in this country's life better or easier. Silencing those who report the truth—especially those who have spent their careers countering disinformation worldwide—makes Americans less safe at home and abroad, and further compromises the United States' leadership in the world. Democracy Forward is committed to protecting the American people and defending the integrity of a free and independent press," said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward.
“The attempt to dismantle Voice of America and the US Agency for Global Media is an unconscionable and outright attack on press freedoms. A free and independent press is the bedrock of democracy both at home and abroad. We are proud to stand with Reporters Without Borders and coalition members in our critical fight to defend free and independent journalism,” said Ambassador Norman Eisen (ret.), executive chair of State Democracy Defenders Fund and counsel for Reporters Without Borders, AFGE and AFSCME.
“Authoritarian censorship regimes like the Kremlin and the Chinese Communist Party are loudly cheering for the death of Voice of America. It’s clear that Donald Trump’s action will encourage harsher crackdowns against journalists and press freedom, putting VOA and RSF staff, correspondents, volunteers, and supporters in greater danger. RSF is compelled to act to protect VOA and the broader press freedom community,” said Clayton Weimers, Executive Director, RSF USA.
“VOA reporting helps keep the public and local journalists informed about human rights violations, violence, protests and corruption — even in the world’s most censored countries. Trump’s decision is not only illegal, it’s a major blow to millions of citizens’ right to trustworthy information and an invaluable gift to the world’s biggest predators of press freedom. RSF is proud to champion this battle in US court, defending access to independent, reliable journalistic reporting for citizens worldwide,” said Thibaut Bruttin, Director General, Reporters sans frontières.
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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing more than 820,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ (AFSCME) 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and freedom and opportunity for all working families.
The NewsGuild-CWA fights for justice on the job for journalists and other workers. It is the largest union of communications employees in North America. Approximately 7,300 of the Guild’s 27,000 members have joined since 2018 at more than 120 newly unionized publications.
The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), established in 1924, is both professional association and exclusive representative for the U.S. Foreign Service. AFSA’s more than 18,000 members include active-duty and retired members of the Foreign Service at the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Foreign Commercial Service, the Foreign Agricultural Service, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is an international non-profit organisation governed by principles of democratic governance. They defend the right of every human being to have access to free and reliable information. This right is essential to know, understand, form an opinion and take action on vital issues in full awareness, both individually and collectively.
Government Accountability Project promotes corporate and government accountability by protecting whistleblowers, advancing occupational free speech, and empowering citizen activists. We educate the public about the importance of whistleblowing and lead campaigns to enact whistleblower protection laws both domestically and internationally. We are a nonpartisan nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP is a nationally-recognized litigation boutique that focuses on civil rights, commercial, criminal, and ethics matters.
Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education, and regulatory engagement.
State Democracy Defenders Fund brings together a nonpartisan team to work with national, state and local allies across the country to defend in real-time the foundations of our democracy.
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Click here to Donate to the AFGE Federal Employee Defense Fund.
For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center.
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