U.S.-funded international broadcaster sends new round of resignation offers to employees
<p><img src="https://www.politico.com/dims4/default/resize/1200/quality/90/format/jp…; alt="jpg?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.co"></p><div><div><p>The agency gave employees a March 9 deadline to accept the package, just before Lamberth’s expected ruling. The notice comes two weeks after Congress approved funding for VOA that amounts to four times the amount that Lake asked.</p><p>For months, Lamberth has been urging Lake to present a plan for the future of VOA.</p><p>And now, new funding from Congress has increased the pressure for Lake to lay out her plan to both Lamberth and Congress.</p><p>Publicly, she has claimed to be on the path of “rightsizing” VOA and its parent company.</p><p>In a statement following the publication of this story, Lake said: “This is about accountability to American taxpayers. Every other major news organization has cut excess staff and streamlined operations in recent years. Taxpayer-funded, government-run media should be no exception. We are reducing a bloated agency and returning it to its core mission while providing employees with generous support as they pursue rewarding new opportunities in the private sector.”</p><p>Ahead of the announcement, Lake <a href="https://x.com/KariLake/status/2027001331999732162">took to X</a> to give her employees a preview of the new offer. “Good Morning! Employees of @USAGM, please check your email,” she wrote. “Have a great day!”</p><p>VOA employees view the new offer as a sign that Lake may lose in court.</p><p>“If they thought they were winning they wouldn’t be bribing us to quit,” said a VOA employee on administrative leave and granted anonymity because of fear of recriminations.</p><p>Patsy Widakuswara, an employee currently on administrative leave and the main plaintiff in the ongoing lawsuit between Lake and VOA employees, said in a text: “This latest move is not going to deter us from moving forward with the next phase of our fight: ensuring that VOA serves our global audience beyond the handful of languages current;y on air, delivering journalism, not propaganda.”</p></div></div>