Trump representative Kari Lake advocates for the complete dismantlement and rebuilding of Voice of America.
Fresh Take:
The Trump Administration's aggressive reform of government-run news outlets, such as Voice of America (VOA), has been met with intense debate. On a recent congressional hearing, Kari Lake, a Republican and former Arizona newscaster, painted a grim picture of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), stating it needs a complete overhaul or better yet, scrapping and starting from scratch.
Lake testified that the USAGM has rotten core elements and what can be saved should be under the U.S. State Department's control. Echoing her sentiments, President Donald Trump tweeted, "Why preserve a Democrat 'mouthpiece' like VOA? It's a total, left-wing disaster. No Republican should vote for its survival."
The hearing was marked by political wrangling, with lawmakers clashing over the role of journalism in spreading American influence. Tensions escalated when Lake accused a member of Congress of receiving threatening phone calls from inside VOA, although she stopped short of stating explicit details.
In response to cutbacks that led to 85% staff reduction, lawmakers highlighted the danger of worldwide news deserts left by American voices. Critics argue the reductions effectively end decades of unfettered journalism promoting democracy and American values globally.
Among the casualties of these reforms are Radio Farda, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Persian-language station. During the Israel-Iran war, employees were recalled, only to be laid off less than a week later, leaving many questioning the missed opportunity to engage with Iranian citizens when their government was weak.
Republicans praised Lake's call to reform the agencies, while some Democrats accused her of being unreliable. The outlook for the USAGM's future is uncertain, with ongoing court cases attempting to restore funding and services. However, as the agencies remain off the air, the longer it takes for them to resume operations, the more difficult it will be for people to revert to their old news consumption habits.
Insights:
- In March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the elimination of USAGM "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law."
- The move has resulted in drastic layoffs, with 1,400 employees cut, resulting in only about 250 employees remaining across USAGM, VOA, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
- Human rights groups and bipartisan U.S. Senate Democrats have expressed concerns about the safety and protection of USAGM journalists abroad, warning the dismantling of these outlets risks leaving journalists jailed in countries like Vietnam, Russia, Myanmar, Belarus, and Azerbaijan without support.
[1] https://www.apnews.com/article/donald-trump-congress-us-news-media-e8d8a4c4b30c1e01af43c659e2a05d44[2] https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/526352-republicans-call-for-us-media-agency-reform[3]https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/4/us-media-agency-face-deep-cuts-under-trump-administration[4] https://www.cpj.org/2021/02/donald-trump-seeks-to-eliminate-us-broadcasting-agency-seeded/[5] https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/04/politics/trump-inc-us-broadcasting-agency-budget/index.html
- The intense debate surrounding the Trump Administration's policy-and-legislation to reform government-run news outlets, such as Voice of America, expanded to include the broader entertainment and arts sector, as many media outlets covered the news extensively.
- In light of the ongoing court cases involving the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), Toronto-based media outlets have started to delve into the role of government in news and arts, with several opinion pieces discussing the implications of the government's actions on general-news and politics.
- As the USAGM faces an uncertain future following the Trump Administration's aggressive reforms, some Toronto artists and entertainers have expressed their concerns about the potential impact on freedom of speech and the arts, fearing a ripple effect on creativity and expression within the country.
- Meanwhile, the arts community in Toronto has shown support for the USAGM, organizing numerous events to raise awareness about the importance of government-funded media outlets in promoting democracy and American values globally.
- With the Trump Administration's move to eliminate USAGM, questions about the future of news, arts, and government-policy-and-legislation have risen, sparking ongoing discussions within the media circles of both Toronto and the United States.
