May 15--UPDATE and Note from Jeff

Dear Colleagues,

Our April funding arrived this morning. That’s good news. It took considerable time and a legal battle to receive this disbursement. It’s an important step in an arduous process to secure the funding approved by Congress on March 14 for MBN and for other U.S.-funded networks (Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty received their April funds this week as well). At this time, overdue May funding is nowhere in sight.

It’s difficult to operate, plan, or to do right by employees under such circumstances. One has to assume that USAGM’s Kari Lake and her deputy Mora Namdar know this. Ms. Lake unlawfully terminated grant agreements for MBN, RFA, and RFE/RL on March 15. To this day, Ms. Lake and Ms. Namdar refuse to engage with us.

It’s profoundly disappointing to see so much taxpayer money wasted in vain and vengeful power plays, self-serving publicity stunts, and disingenuous moral crusades. None of this serves the American national interest. Ms. Lake and Ms. Namdar have shown blatant disregard for Congressional intent. They’ve caused irreparable harm to MBN and its employees.

We’ve not been pushed off course. You’ve stuck together. MBN is producing remarkable digital content. I’m impressed and eternally grateful. We stick to our mission; we serve our audience.

Now that we have received overdue April funding we can begin to pay at least a portion of the array of bills that have been mounting. Most important: We can start assisting MBN colleagues who have lost their jobs. Specifically, we’ll start to make payments this month for accrued, unused vacation time. It will take time to process these payments, but I can assure you this is a priority. We’ll work as quickly as possible. Former employees can expect to hear from COO Deirdre Kline and Acting CFO Raji Kalra on process and timing.

Additional relief for former staff will come incrementally as further funding is released by USAGM. While we begin to pay out accrued, unused vacation time to former employees, I’m sorry it is not possible to provide severance at this stage. Feel encouraged to join us in urging Ms. Lake and Ms. Namdar to release immediately our Congressionally approved funds for the remainder of the fiscal year. You can write them at: KLakeUSAGMgov and MnamdarUSAGMgov.

We’re fighting for MBN. We engage Congress each and every week. We remain in daily contact with RFA and RFE/RL. We confer regularly with Ryan Crocker and our MBN board. They’re with us. Our legal battle continues. Expect an update very soon.

We won’t give up. My deepest appreciation and respect goes to all of you for your hard work — and for the exceptional grace you show under pressure.

Sincerely, Jeff