Senior Trump adviser Kari Lake recently made a significant announcement regarding the future direction of Voice of America (VOA). Lake revealed that VOA will now rely on news coverage from the far-right media network One America News Network (OAN) for its foreign audiences, at no cost to taxpayers. This move has sparked controversy and legal action from VOA employees who were put on indefinite leave by Lake. Critics argue that this decision goes against VOA’s long-standing commitment to independent and non-partisan journalism, which has been a cornerstone of the agency since World War II.

Despite pushback from agency and network veterans, Lake remains steadfast in her decision to align VOA with OAN’s pro-Trump messaging. The addition of OAN content is seen as a way for Lake to continue programming without fully reinstating the previous VOA workforce. However, the move has raised concerns about VOA’s ability to fulfill its mission of providing reliable and authoritative news to global audiences.

Lake’s actions have faced legal challenges, with VOA journalists suing her and the Trump administration for violating free press protections and breaking the law. The ongoing legal battles reflect the tumultuous environment within VOA and its sister networks since Lake’s appointment. Despite these challenges, Lake remains determined to reshape VOA in alignment with her vision, leading to a contentious and uncertain future for the agency and its employees.