Silencing the Truth: The Assault on USAGM and Global Press Freedom

In the annals of American history, few moments have been as starkly emblematic of the erosion of press freedom as the recent shutdown of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). On March 21, 2025, a coalition of journalists, federal workers, and their unions filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, accusing USAGM, its Acting Director Victor Morales, and Special Adviser Kari Lake of violating the First Amendment, separation of powers, and several other laws. The lawsuit alleges that the agency's actions—sending staff home, suspending contractors, and locking the doors—amount to an unprecedented attack on the freedom of the press and the credibility of global media networks.

The plaintiffs, including 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, argue that the shutdown is not just a bureaucratic maneuver but a deliberate attempt to silence voices that have long been a beacon of truth and democracy. VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara, the lead plaintiff, has devoted her career to building USAGM’s networks into a credible media force with global audiences in the hundreds of millions. The lawsuit 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 implications of this shutdown are far-reaching. The Voice of America (VOA) was founded to spread the truth and fight propaganda from lawless authoritarian regimes. Its silencing is not just an attack on the jobs of its employees but an assault on press freedom, journalistic integrity, and democracy worldwide. AFGE National President Everett Kelley summed it up succinctly: “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.”

The shutdown of USAGM has also raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists. The agency’s dismantling leaves journalists employed by its entities vulnerable to state retaliation. For instance, journalists employed by USAGM-funded networks such as VOA and RFE/RL face constant threats, and the loss of institutional backing could leave them vulnerable to state retaliation. Meanwhile, the Open Technology Fund has long provided essential digital security tools and emergency support for many journalists under threat. Its shuttering would leave reporters working in high-risk environments without critical safeguards against surveillance and repression.

The legal battle between USAGM and its plaintiffs could set a precedent for future government interventions in media operations and the balance between press freedom and government oversight. The outcome of this lawsuit could influence how future government interventions are viewed under the law, impact international media operations, and shape public and political debates about the role of government in media operations.

The shutdown of USAGM is a stark reminder of the fragility of press freedom and the importance of independent journalism in promoting democracy and countering misinformation. It underscores the potential risks of retreating from these commitments and the need for vigilance in protecting the rights of journalists and the integrity of the media.

The assault on VOA is an attack on international democracy and journalistic integrity. The lawsuit seeks immediate relief to reverse the shuttering of the U.S. Agency for Global Media and restore the voices that have long been a beacon of truth and democracy. The world cannot afford to lose these vital sources of independent journalism, and the outcome of this legal battle will have far-reaching implications for the future of press freedom and global media landscapes.