Senior presidential adviser Kari Lake has made her intentions clear regarding the future of the Voice of America (VOA). In a recent announcement, Lake expressed her desire to align the agency's news output more closely with the far-right One America News Network (OAN). This move comes as Lake confirmed a deal to provide OAN's pro-Trump news reports to VOA's foreign audiences, all without utilizing taxpayer funds.
In a series of social media posts on Elon Musk's X and Truth Social, Lake stated, "I can ensure our outlets have reliable and credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news programs." She further emphasized her commitment to saving American taxpayers' money, asserting that incorporating OAN as a video/news source achieves that goal.
The response from veterans of both the agency and the broader news industry has been overwhelmingly negative. Former Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Grant Turner, criticized Lake's decision, describing it as "a mockery of the agency's history." He noted that since World War II, the VOA has provided crucial news coverage and cultural programming to regions lacking a free press, serving over 360 million people each week.
Established by Congress, the VOA's mission is to deliver complex news narratives that include criticism of the government's official stance. However, since March, the agency's operations have been severely curtailed under directives from the Trump administration and Lake. Lake has previously labeled the parent agency as a "giant rot" and a burden to U.S. taxpayers, leading to the indefinite leave of nearly the entire workforce.
The current situation at the VOA is further complicated by pending litigation from a coalition of journalists, employees, unions, and press advocacy groups. This legal action demands that the U.S. Agency for Global Media restore operations at the Voice of America. Despite the turmoil, sources within the agency report that a select group of journalists was recalled recently, although many contractors received termination notices.
OAN has garnered attention for its unwavering support of President Trump, even amid allegations that he was cheated out of re-election in 2020. The network has faced legal challenges, including defamation lawsuits related to false claims about election fraud. Critics argue that introducing OAN's programming to the VOA undermines its mission and the integrity of its reporting.
Current and former staff members at the U.S. Agency for Global Media have voiced concerns about the implications of OAN programming on the VOA's mission. Turner expressed skepticism about whether this approach aligns with the agency's statutory mandate, stating, "The truth has a certain feel, and audiences can sense that." Joint statements from Patsy Widakuswara and Jessica Jerreat, both of whom are on indefinite leave, emphasize that the VOA should report reliable news, not outsource journalism to politically aligned outlets.
Widakuswara and Jerreat are among a group of staff members currently suing Lake and the Trump administration for actions they believe violate constitutional protections of a free press. They assert that the VOA has a wealth of talented journalists ready to provide news in line with its charter but are being obstructed from performing their duties.
The tumultuous environment at the VOA has been marked by executive orders from Lake that halted broadcasts and froze the agency's website. Significant cutbacks have led to the termination of funding for sister networks like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Jeffrey Gedmin, president of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, lamented the consequences of these decisions, stating, "We've been starved of resources ever since."
In light of recent judicial decisions, Lake has celebrated a federal appellate panel's ruling that suggested the dispute over the VOA should go through administrative processes rather than courts. Following this ruling, Lake expressed optimism about modernizing the agency and fulfilling its mission, stating that guidance would be provided to staffers. However, dissenting judges have warned against the president's authority to dismantle the VOA.
As the situation continues to evolve, the future of the Voice of America remains uncertain, caught between political agendas and the foundational principles of independent journalism.
