Judge Orders Voice of America Restored as Kari Lake Faces New Staff Lawsuit Alleging Pro‑Trump Propaganda
After a judge ordered Voice of America be restored, veteran VOA journalists filed a separate lawsuit accusing Kari Lake and acting USAGM CEO Michael Rigas of promoting pro‑Trump propaganda and violating statutory and constitutional protections for VOA’s editorial independence. The suit alleges Lake fired contractors, put more than 1,000 employees on paid leave, cut VOA’s 49 language services to six, canceled Associated Press and Reuters contracts in favor of a deal to carry One America News Network content, and allowed VOA’s Persian service to air an effusive hour‑long retrospective on Trump’s first year back in office.
📌 Key Facts
- A new group of veteran Voice of America journalists filed a separate lawsuit against Kari Lake and acting U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) CEO Michael Rigas, alleging she is promoting pro‑Trump propaganda and violating statutory and constitutional safeguards for VOA’s editorial independence.
- The suit cites steps taken after President Trump’s March 2025 executive order, including firing contractors, placing more than 1,000 employees on paid leave, and cutting VOA’s 49 language services down to six.
- Plaintiffs allege Lake canceled contracts with major news wires, specifically the Associated Press and Reuters.
- The complaint says Lake negotiated a deal to carry One America News Network (OANN) content on VOA.
- The suit alleges VOA’s Persian service aired an hour‑long, “glowing” retrospective on Trump’s first year back in office that featured effusive praise, which plaintiffs say is part of a broader pro‑Trump editorial line on coverage of the Iran war.
📊 Relevant Data
As of 2024, there were approximately 750,000 Iranian Americans living in the United States, representing about 0.2% of the total U.S. population.
7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. — Pew Research Center
In 2025, Voice of America's weekly audience reached 361 million people globally, experiencing a 30% growth in audience that year prior to the cuts.
RFA and VOA Shutdown: The Erosion of U.S. Soft Power in Southeast Asia — CSIS
The International Broadcasting Act of 1994 establishes provisions for the editorial independence of U.S. international broadcasters like Voice of America, separating their operations from government influence to ensure credibility.
USAGM's Editorial Independence — U.S. Agency for Global Media
In 2025, the percentage of top editors of color in U.S. news media decreased to 15% from 29% in 2024.
Race and leadership in the news media 2025: Evidence from five markets — Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- A new group of veteran Voice of America journalists has filed a separate lawsuit against Kari Lake and acting USAGM CEO Michael Rigas, alleging she is promoting pro‑Trump propaganda and violating statutory and constitutional safeguards for VOA’s editorial independence.
- The suit cites specific steps by Lake after Trump’s March 2025 executive order: firing contractors, putting more than 1,000 employees on paid leave, and cutting VOA’s 49 language services down to six.
- Plaintiffs allege Lake canceled Associated Press and Reuters contracts and negotiated a deal to carry One America News Network content, and that VOA’s Persian service aired an hour‑long, 'glowing' retrospective on Trump’s first year back in office featuring effusive praise, as part of a broader pro‑Trump line on the Iran war.