A group of veteran journalists at Voice of America has filed a lawsuit against Trump administration official Kari Lake, alleging she is turning the network into a platform for pro-Trump propaganda and violating its legally mandated editorial independence.
The lawsuit claims Lake’s actions breach federal law and First Amendment protections by promoting partisan messaging and restricting journalists’ ability to report freely. It also names Michael Rigas, the acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, as a defendant.
According to the complaint and statements from attorneys, VOA programming under Lake has increasingly reflected messaging aligned with former President Donald Trump, particularly in coverage related to Iran. Journalists allege they were censored or limited in reporting certain perspectives, including public support for opposition figures during protests.
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| Former VOA Director |
The plaintiffs also point to programming decisions, including attempts to replace traditional wire services like the Associated Press and Reuters with content from the conservative outlet One America News Network, as evidence of political influence over editorial content.
In response, USAGM said it is legally required to ensure VOA broadcasts align with U.S. policy and serve the interests of American taxpayers, while still adhering to the VOA Charter’s mandate for accurate and authoritative journalism.
Founded during World War II, VOA was designed to provide credible news to audiences in regions without a free press and later became a key instrument of U.S. soft power during the Cold War. Until recently, it reached an estimated 360 million people worldwide each week.
The outcome of the case could determine whether VOA maintains its traditional editorial independence or continues under a more politically directed structure.