"Voice of America"* has fallen silent for the first time in 83 years — the entire staff, along with the CEO, has been dissolved

The Voice of America radio station❶ is silent, more than 1.3 thousand of its employees have been sent on administrative leave. This was stated by the director of the radio station Michael Abramowitz.

"I am deeply saddened that for the first time in 83 years, the famous Voice of America has fallen silent," he wrote on the LinkedIn social network (blocked in Russia).

"This morning I learned that almost the entire staff of Voice of America — more than 1,300 journalists, producers and support staff — has been placed on administrative leave. Just like me," Abramovits said, according to TASS.

Earlier, ABC News reported that all full-time employees of the Voice of America radio station❶ received a notification of transfer to paid administrative leave.

As reported, US President Donald Trump signed a decree on Friday significantly reducing the scale of the activities of the US government Agency for Global Media. It is responsible for foreign policy propaganda and coordinates the activities of such state-funded US radio stations as the foreign media "Voice of America"❶ and "Freedom/ Free Europe" recognized in the Russian Federation, as well as their Internet divisions. Officially, the agency is referred to as an independent agency of the US government. Until 2018, it was called the Broadcasting Council.

❶An organization performing the functions of a foreign agent