The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has fired the Director of its external broadcaster Voice of America (VOA) several months after he helped lead a legal effort to overturn efforts within the federal government to trim down the outlet’s staff and eliminate its funding.
On Monday, attorneys for VOA Director Michael Abramowitz said he was dismissed on August 1 after failing to agree to a demotion, which involved an order to relocate from his home in Washington, D.C. to a new office in another state.
In a 13-page memorandum obtained by The Desk, USAGM Senior Advisor John Zadrozny said Abramowitz was offered the opportunity to stay at VOA in the role of Chief Management Officer, which would have required him to move to Greenville, North Carolina. The new assignment would have started on September 6, the memorandum said. Abramowitz refused the new assignment, according to the document.
“Your failure to accept a directed geographic reassignment directly relates to your job duties and responsibilities as the Director of VOA,” the memo contends. By turning down the new job offer, Abramowitz failed to “meet the Executive Core Qualification of Leading Change,” a framework by which senior-level government officials like Abramowitz are evaluated against when an agency considers their fitness for a promotion or continued employment.
USAGM first proposed removing Abramowitz from his position last week, he said in a public statement.
“I wanted you to be aware that my lawyers have filed a motion in federal court today challenging efforts by USAGM to remove me as director of Voice of America,” Abramowitz wrote on social media. “They believe USAGM’s action is plainly illegal. I can’t say much about the details of the case beyond what is laid out in the court filing.”
Abramowitz noted that his legal fight was part of a larger battle aimed at “preserving the rule of law and fulfilling VOA’s vital mission of delivering fact-based news and information about America to the world.”
The move is the latest assault on VOA by government officials and advisors close to President Donald Trump to deprive the broadcaster of its ability to operate.
In March, Trump signed an Executive Order requiring USAGM and six unrelated federal agencies to eliminate unnecessary spending and lay off workers, a move that he said was intended to help curb wasteful government spending.
Almost immediately, USAGM deprived VOA and other external broadcasters of necessary funding to continue their operations. Hundreds of workers were laid off; many were ultimately fired in June.
Most of VOA’s radio and television signals have been off the air since staff eliminations began in March. Kari Lake, a senior advisor to USAGM, forged a programming-related agreement with One America News to repurpose news packages and other material on VOA in the near future.
Shortly after the Executive Order was signed, but before VOA’s employees were fired, Abramowitz filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the USAGM from withholding funds needed for the VOA to continue broadcasting. The lawsuit remains pending in court.
In an update given to the court of Monday, Abramowitz made the termination notice known, and said it was unlawful because only a sitting director can only be removed if approved by an advisory board that is tasked with oversight of the VOA’s administrative duties.
In the notice of termination, Zadrozny noted that Abramowitz had a “history of outstanding work performance” and dependability, and that the executive in charge of VOA has no disciplinary record.
