Voice of America’s director and assistant director have resigned as the organization continues to butt heads with the Trump administration.
Director Amanda Bennett and deputy director Sandy Sugawara issued their resignations to the newsroom on Monday, according to Politico. In the email, they revealed that they had offered to step down as Michael Pack, who was recently confirmed by the Senate as the head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, settles into his new job.
“We depart with the gratitude and joy that has marked our time together, with a dedication to our mission and admiration for each one of you,” they wrote.
Pack, a conservative activist and documentary filmmaker who previously worked with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, was confirmed despite Democrats’ objections. The Democrats felt that Pack’s nomination would test the independent nature of VOA.
The editors’ resignations came a day after it was revealed that the media relations department at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told communications staff to ignore inquiries from journalists associated with the U.S.-funded but independent news outlet.
Michawn Rich, a temporary employee of the CDC’s press department, noted in an April 30 “rundown” email for a new employee that the agency doesn’t send media requests from “Greta Van Susteren or anyone affiliated with Voice of America” to the Department of Health and Human Services or Office of the Vice President.
“NOTE: as a rule, do not send up requests for Greta Van Susteren or anyone affiliated with Voice of America,” the email stated, which was revealed earlier this week as a result of a Freedom of Information Act.
The email also included a link to a story in the White House’s evening newsletter from April 10, accusing VOA of spending taxpayer dollars to “Promote Foreign Propaganda.”
