Trump appointee Kari Lake slashes VOA and global broadcasts, drawing heated backlash from both parties in Congress.

Kari Lake’s Leadership Triggers Congressional Clash Over U.S. Global Media

The future of America’s international broadcasting is in the spotlight as Kari Lake, newly appointed by President Donald Trump to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media, implements sweeping changes. Lake, a former Arizona news anchor and recent Senate candidate, has cut hundreds of positions and dramatically scaled back operations at the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and other government-funded outlets.

Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee for the first time in her new role, Lake described the agency as a “rotten piece of fish” and called for a fundamental reset, asserting, “It’s best to just scrap the whole thing and start over.” She argued that traditional TV and radio broadcasting no longer serve America’s strategic interests in a digital era and revealed security concerns, including claims that Chinese spies infiltrated VOA’s Mandarin service and that Russian agents nearly joined Radio Free Europe’s payroll.

Lake’s dramatic overhaul was executed under direct orders from President Trump, who issued an executive order in March. Holding up a photograph of the president during her testimony, Lake told lawmakers, “What we’ve reviewed was an executive order March 14th by the man who’s in charge of the executive branch. His name is Donald Trump.”

Lawmakers Warn of Lost Soft Power and Rising Global Threats

Lake’s approach drew bipartisan criticism. Democrats warned that gutting VOA and its sister broadcasters undermines U.S. “soft power,” especially at a time of heightened global tension. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif., called the cuts “the worst and most stupid thing we could do in foreign affairs,” arguing that these platforms are vital for broadcasting truth and democracy in hostile territories. “In terms of our influence in the world, Voice of America and its sister broadcasters is more important than an aircraft carrier,” Sherman insisted.

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., echoed concerns, stressing that reducing Radio Free Asia’s coverage surrenders influence to China and North Korea. Kim lamented the loss of experienced journalists, warning that without outside reporting, countries like North Korea will view the U.S. solely as an adversary. “We have let go of journalists that have spent decades building their credibility and trust with our audiences,” she said.

Lake responded that the agency would still meet its “statutory minimum” but acknowledged that VOA and other services now operate at a fraction of their previous capacity. The agency recently laid off 639 employees, including dozens in the Persian division, though limited programming was restored as tensions flared between Iran and Israel.

Debate Intensifies Over Role of U.S. Broadcasters

Republican supporters of Lake’s overhaul argue that the VOA is an outdated relic of the Cold War, made redundant by smartphones and modern media. “It’s a relic,” Lake said, a view shared by Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn. Others on the committee, however, pressed for America’s founding ideals, history, and the 250th anniversary of the nation to remain at the heart of global messaging.

Democrats pressed Lake about her political background and questioned whether her loyalty to Trump threatens the independence of American broadcasters. Lake, sanctioned in the past for providing false information to courts, defended her actions and called for a new approach to government media. “I was brave enough to fight our shoddy elections. And the courts have not caught up,” she retorted.

As Congress prepares to debate funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media in upcoming spending bills, the outcome will determine whether the microphones of America’s global broadcasters fall silent—or are reimagined for a new era.