BBG Watch Commentary
Kenneth R. Timmerman, an investigative journalist, Republican political activist, president of Foundation for Democracy in Iran and former member of the foreign policy and national security advisory board of Trump for President, has a new article in The Daily Caller describing low employee morale and mismanagement at the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and the Voice of America (VOA), including VOA’s Persian Service.
“Every year VOA employees file lawsuits against their agency — and sometimes, against individual managers — for discrimination, unlawful firing, sexual harassment, corruption and illegal contracting,” Timmerman wrote.
Timmerman also wrote that “The BBG has also been sued repeatedly for violating the Smith-Mundt Act that gives priority to qualified U.S. citizens for jobs and promotions over non-U.S. citizens, with broadcast executives accused of hiring cronies and family members from their home countries, including Iran, some of whom could never pass a security clearance.”
In his article, Timmerman urged the White House “to appoint a new management team, starting with a new CEO for the Broadcasting Board of Governors and a new director for Voice of America.” The current Obama administration era holdover appointees are BBG CEO John F. Lansing and VOA director Amanda Bennett.
Timmerman wrote that “A January 2017 town hall meeting of VOA Persian employees and management turned into a shouting match, with VOA Director Amanda Bennett walking out before employees could voice their grievances in an orderly fashion.”
READ MORE: Toxic Culture At Voice Of America Exposed In Discrimination Lawsuit. By Kenneth R. Timmerman. The Daily Caller, December 15, 2017.