Kari Lake Could Force Deportation Of Hundreds Of Journalists – Trump ally and head of U.S. Agency for Global Media, Kari Lake, has reportedly resumed the process of dismantling the Voice of America (VOA) government-funded international broadcaster.
Lake’s latest move involves the termination of contract positions that are likely to cause additional legal headaches for the agency.
Lake, who assumed the role of senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media in March 2025 after being snubbed for a cabinet position, reportedly terminated more than 500 contract journalists throughout the organization and is now looking to sell a key studio despite ongoing disputes over the legality of the plan.
Kari Lake Declares War on VOA
Reports this week reveal how the agency sent letters to contractors beginning this month, with the process continuing until May 15. Lake terminated workers across multiple language services, revealing just how sweeping the cuts have become.
Assuming the terminations are determined to be legal, the decision could force dozens of journalists born overseas to leave the United States within 30 days as a result of their visa stipulations. The move has been deemed controversial not only because of ongoing legal disputes, but because some journalists may be forced to return to countries that oppose the work done by the U.S.-funded broadcaster.
In March, the VOA ended contracts with news wire services the Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France Presse – a move that Lake said would save the agency $53 million.
Can Lake Really Do This to VOA?
In April 2025, a federal judge filed a preliminary injunction to stop the dismantling of the organization. The ruling forced the agency to restore operations and reinstate members of staff who were previously fired. The decision was later stayed by an appeals court, leaving the agency in a state of limbo.
As the legal debacle unfolded, Lake announced that the VOA would begin airing content from the conservative news network One America News, which caused further controversy and criticism from Democrats.
While the VOA has not technically been disbanded, its operations have changed dramatically and its editorial direction marks a significant departure from its stated aim of providing non-partisan news content for a global audience.
Critics, however, argue that VOA was never truly a non-partisan media operation and that it parroted politically-charged claims about American democracy, President Donald Trump, and the more controversial figures within the Republican party.
Lake appears relentless in her goal to dismantle the agency, telling Washington Post reporter Scott Nover to “buckle up” and expect “more to come.”
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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