The Trump administration fired around 600 employees at Voice of America, approximately one-third of its staff.

The layoffs targeted contracted journalists and some administrative employees. Voice of America is a news network funded by the federal government that provides reporting to countries that have limited press freedom. 

Voice of America indicated that the Trump administration continued its push to dismantle the broadcaster, despite a court order requiring the government to keep it. Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz, a plaintiff suing the government over its cuts, said in an email to his staff that he was “heartbroken” over the firings.

The now-fired journalists will have to leave the United States next month as their status in the country was tied to their employment. Abramowitz said some of the fired journalists are from countries with harsh punishments for independent journalists.

“Some of VOA’s most talented journalists have been [personal services contractors] — many of whom have escaped tyranny in their home countries to tell America’s story of freedom and democracy,” he said.

“I find this action inexplicable, and to my knowledge, no rationale has been provided by USAGM for this decision,” Abramowitz said. “We will continue to make efforts to help individual PSCs, especially those who face a possible return to hostile countries, in any and every way we can during this difficult time.”

The Trump administration cited “the government’s convenience” as a reason for the terminations in a letter to the affected employees. Voice of America has long been seen as a useful tool for U.S. soft power overseas, but Trump has called it “the voice of radical America.”

The agency’s building, the Wilber J. Cohen building on Independence Avenue, was also put up for rent Thursday, according to the General Services Administration.

Republican Kari Lake, a senior adviser at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, said the Trump administration acted within its authority with these firings.

CHINA CHEERS DEMISE OF VOICE OF AMERICA UNDER KARI LAKE

“We are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities,” Lake said. “We will continue to scale back the bloat at U.S.A.G.M. and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans.”

“Buckle up,” she added.“There’s more to come.”