US-backed foreign broadcaster selling pricy news gear for pennies on the dollar to ‘spite’ taxpayers
In a shocking turn of events, Radio Free Asia (RFA), a nonprofit news organization funded entirely by U.S. taxpayers, has begun liquidating a significant portion of its broadcasting equipment amid a government shutdown that has temporarily halted its operations. RFA, which typically receives around $60 million annually to produce news in Asia, recently faced a lapse in funding that led to the suspension of its services. However, as the organization’s website went dark, it was discovered that RFA had quietly turned to an online auction site, Rasmus Auctions, to sell off valuable items at drastically reduced prices. Items such as high-definition cameras, teleprompters, and even office refrigerators were listed for mere cents, raising eyebrows and sparking outrage among lawmakers and the public alike.
California Congressman Darrell Issa expressed his dismay at the situation, labeling the auction a betrayal of American taxpayers. He highlighted the absurdity of seeing professional equipment, worth thousands of dollars, being sold for as little as 90 cents. Issa’s comments reflect a broader concern about the responsible use of taxpayer funds, especially when an organization like RFA, which is fully funded by the government, appears to be liquidating assets in a manner that suggests mismanagement or spite. In response to the backlash, RFA attributed its predicament to the Trump administration’s previous budget cuts and the current government shutdown, stating that these factors forced the organization to make difficult financial decisions. They argued that shedding equipment was a necessary step to ensure long-term viability and to continue holding authoritarian regimes accountable.
However, this explanation was met with skepticism from Kari Lake, deputy executive at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFA. Lake firmly disputed RFA’s claims, emphasizing that the agency has provided all appropriated funds and that the sale of equipment at such low prices is unacceptable. She announced plans for an audit to investigate the situation further, indicating a serious concern about RFA’s financial management. As the organization navigates this tumultuous period, it has expressed hope that Congress will restore its funding, allowing it to resume operations and rebuild its resources. The unfolding situation raises critical questions about accountability, transparency, and the management of taxpayer-funded organizations, as RFA attempts to balance its operational needs with the expectations of the public it serves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE9zYWXszRU
A nonprofit news organization that is funded entirely
by the U.S. government
began selling off a large amount of its equipment on a public auction site – with many items being sold for pennies on the dollar.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) receives about $60 million a year from American taxpayers to
produce news in Asia.
The organization said it was suspending operations due to a lapse in funding during the government shutdown.
But while its website went dark, Fox News discovered that RFA had quietly begun selling off major portions of its expensive broadcast gear, including HD cameras, teleprompters, lenses and even office refrigerators.
Listings on a public auction site, Rasmus Auctions, show RFA-branded broadcast gear is being offered at fire sale prices.
CPB IRKED WITH NPR AFTER OUTLET TRIES TO BLOCK $58 MILLION IN DISPERSEMENTS TO NEW NONPROFIT
Some high-definition cameras are for sale for less than a dollar, teleprompters for 90 cents, professional lenses for under a dollar and a refrigerator listed for just 20 cents.
In total, more than a thousand pieces of equipment were offered for sale, which has sparked outrage.
California Congressman Darrell Issa
, who had been working to restore RFA’s funding, called the online auction a betrayal to American taxpayers.
WHITE HOUSE MOVE TO CANCEL $4.9B FOREIGN AID WITH ‘POCKET RESCISSION’ BLASTED AS ILLEGAL
“I’ve never seen such belligerence by an organization that gets a hundred percent of its money from the U.S. government,” Issa said. “Lenses you’d pay thousands of dollars for are being sold for pennies. It’s clear they’re liquidating assets out of spite.”
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Radio Free Asia
blamed the Trump administration’s
earlier budget cuts.
EXCLUSIVE: HOUSE GOP REPORT ALLEGES $20B GREEN GRANTS ENRICHED BIDEN ALLIES
They also pointed at the shutdown for forcing the organization to make difficult financial choices.
“The Administration’s unlawful termination and disruption of RFA’s timely funding, followed by an extended government shutdown, has forced the company to drastically reduce operational costs to set up for long-term success,” the statement read.
“Shedding equipment we can no longer use, while retaining key personnel and assets, responsibly positions RFA to continue editorial operations that hold the Chinese Communist Party and other authoritarian governments to account,” RFA said.
FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS VOICE OF AMERICA MASS TERMINATIONS IN SCATHING RULING AGAINST LAKE
“Our plan going forward is to build back once Congress and the Administration resolve our funding issues,” the statement concluded.
However,
Kari Lake
, deputy executive at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees RFA, quickly disputed those claims.
“Everything they said was not true,” Lake shot back.
CPB IRKED WITH NPR AFTER OUTLET TRIES TO BLOCK $58 MILLION IN DISPERSEMENTS TO NEW NONPROFIT
“We are funding them. We’ve given them every single penny appropriated to them. Eighty cents for an HD camera? That’s a slap in the face to taxpayers,” Lake said.
In a letter to RFA sent Thursday, Lake wrote: “The insanity ends now. Be prepared to open your doors next week for our team of auditors to find out what on earth is going on at RFA, as permitted under the grant agreement and applicable regulations.”
In further comments to Fox News, RFA said it hopes to restart its news operations if
Congress restores its funding,
and they have enough equipment to continue to operate if Congress decides to fund them moving forward.
