Washington, June 26, 2025 — Former President Donald Trump escalated efforts to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), urging Congress via Truth Social to “KILL” the state-funded broadcaster. His comments followed a fiery congressional hearing where VOA’s newly appointed overseer, Kari Lake, defended sweeping layoffs and structural overhauls. 🔪 “Leftwing Disaster,” He SaysTrump criticized VOA as a “TOTAL, LEFTWING DISASTER,” declaring it a “Democrat ‘mouthpiece’” unworthy of federal funding and urging Republicans to block its survival .⚖️ Kari Lake Goes on OffenseAt the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, Kari Lake called the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, “rotten to the core.” She recommended “scrap[ping] the whole thing and start over,” possibly spinning off any salvageable parts to the State Department . Lake argued bloated newsrooms should be replaced with leaner freelance operations.🧹 Massive Layoffs and Mission ShiftSince March, nearly 1,400 VOA and USAGM staff have been laid off—about 85% of the workforce—with only around 250 employees remaining . Lake described VOA’s broadcasts as suffering from liberal bias and accused it of security lapses, especially targeting Mandarin-language programming. She also noted that during recent U.S. bombing of Iran, VOA aired a Trump message in Farsi—seen by critics as blurring the line between journalism and presidential messaging .🛡️ VOA’s Defense of IntegrityVOA Director Michael Abramowitz, currently on administrative leave, defended the organization, stating no deliberate misinformation was aired and editorial errors were addressed internally .⚖️ Bipartisan Backlash & Legal PushbackDemocrats slammed the administration, warning that undermining VOA will diminish U.S. influence and leave a vacuum for adversaries like China and Russia . Legal challenges are underway to restore funding and protections for VOA news operations .🌍 The Stakes: Soft Power vs. Cost-CuttingVOA, founded in 1942, has traditionally been a pillar of U.S. international broadcasting—delivering uncensored news in challenging media environments. Critics warn that defunding VOA jeopardizes American soft power in critical regions and emboldens authoritarian states .⸻🔍 What to Watch • Congressional action: With Trump’s direct call to “kill” VOA, GOP lawmakers must decide whether to back drastic cuts—several Republican senators have already pushed back on similar foreign-aid reductions . • Legal rulings: Ongoing lawsuits could block funding termination and force rescinding layoffs. • Global impact: Centering freelance messaging over institutional news risks eroding VOA’s credibility and reach abroad.⸻🧭 Bottom LineTrump’s latest salvo pushes Congress to effectively dismantle VOA, framing it as liberal propaganda. Kari Lake doubled down, calling for a wholesale reset. But VOA’s defenders argue the cuts compromise decades of global influence. The final outcome hinges on high-stakes congressional decisions and court verdicts in the coming weeks.
