[Source/Observer Network, Xiong Chaoyi] According to a Bloomberg report on May 16, the administration led by U.S. President Trump is considering selling the headquarters building of the "Voice of America" (VOA), which is the latest well-known real estate asset listed in the so-called "accelerated disposal" plan aimed at reducing the government's real estate scale.

The headquarters building of the "Voice of America," known as the Wilbur Cohen Federal Building, is located on the south side of the National Mall in Washington, two blocks away from the U.S. Capitol. This historic building was originally constructed for the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is also the office location of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization of the "Voice of America," as well as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The report pointed out that this sale occurs as Trump attempts to close down "Voice of America" and other "overseas propaganda mouthpieces," which is also part of billionaire and Trump advisor Musk's initiative to reduce the size of the federal government.

Information shows that as the regulator of the U.S. government-funded overseas news agency, USAGM oversees several "overseas propaganda mouthpieces" - "Voice of America," "Radio Free Asia," "Radio Free Europe," "Middle East Broadcasting Networks," "Cuba Broadcasting Office," as well as the "Open Technology Fund" project supporting "internet freedom."

Exterior view of the "Voice of America" building, The New York Times

It was reported that in recent weeks, other properties put up for sale included the federal courthouse buildings in Los Angeles and Cleveland, the food safety inspection laboratory in St. Louis, and the headquarters building of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington.

It is understood that the General Services Administration (GSA), the U.S. federal agency responsible for managing government properties, briefly listed 443 possible properties for sale, and then continuously released sale notices every week. In March, the agency withdrew this list within 24 hours after its publication, but has since been advancing a more cautious procedure.

The sale process remains on a fast track. Although federal law requires surplus properties to be prioritized for government agencies and non-profit organizations before being sold to private bidders, GSA stated that the accelerated process would allow it to complete these legal procedures while potential buyers conduct due diligence.

Bloomberg noted that the sale of the "Voice of America" headquarters building may leave employees and contractors of this government-operated international news agency facing homelessness, even if they can successfully overturn Trump's budget cuts through Congress or the courts. Currently, although a federal judge temporarily halted Trump's plan to shut down the "Voice of America," an appellate court later ruled that the Trump administration could continue withholding funds during the journalists' challenge to the shutdown.

Last year, when the Biden administration was still in power, they negotiated a 15-year lease agreement for the "Voice of America," selecting a modern new office building in Washington. However, in March, Kari Lake, the USAGM director nominated by Trump, canceled this lease agreement.

Trump and Lake, file photo

On March 14, to eliminate waste and reduce excessive government power, Trump signed an executive order continuing to cut federal bureaucracy. Among the eight federal agencies affected by this order were USAGM, which oversees various government "mouthpieces" including the "Voice of America."

Nominally, these American "overseas propaganda mouthpieces" claim their purpose is to tell the "American story" and promote "democracy and freedom." In reality, they often engage in public opinion warfare against rival countries of the United States, fomenting trouble around the world and interfering in other countries' internal affairs, and sometimes even inciting "color revolutions."

In fact, since 2020, during his first term in office, Trump had repeatedly targeted the "Voice of America," stating that taxpayer money was not being used effectively to tell the "American story" and even accusing it of "promoting Chinese propaganda." On April 15, 2020, Trump directly criticized the "Voice of America" at a press conference, calling its reporting "repulsive."

The New York Times pointed out that since Trump returned to the White House, billionaire Musk and his leadership at the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) have attempted to completely reshape the federal government by cutting personnel and projects. As early as February 9, Musk posted on X platform, stating that media outlets such as the "Voice of America" and "Radio Free Europe" waste taxpayers' money and should all be shut down.

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7505671992276828709/

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