In mid-March, the US government made the abrupt decision to place employees of Voice of America, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and the US Agency for Global Media on leave, terminate the contracts of individual contract staffers, and end financial support for grantee organizations Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and the Open Technology Fund.

This has caused significant hardships to staff members, who are losing their incomes, health insurance, and - in many cases - visas to stay in the United States or other safe countries. Some cannot return to their countries of citizenship, because they would be targeted by hostile regimes for their journalistic work on behalf of the US government.

This fundraiser will support the most pressing needs of staff and contributors under threat, including legal help for staff at risk of reprisals by foreign regimes, medical bills, and other major financial hardships.