Trump Appoints Kari Lake to Head Voice of America, Raising Independence Concerns

Dec 12, 2024, 11:35 PM

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Kari Lake, a staunch ally and former Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Arizona, will head the Voice of America (VOA), a federally funded international broadcasting network with a nearly $267.5 million budget and over 2,000 employees. Founded in 1942, VOA broadcasts in nearly 50 languages, reaching more than 326 million people weekly. Lake, who has been a vocal critic of the media and denied the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, aims to ensure that 'American values of Freedom and Liberty' are broadcast around the globe. Her appointment has sparked concerns among some VOA journalists about potential interference in the network's editorial independence, which is protected by its congressional charter. Trump's previous administration had attempted to influence VOA's content, leading to legal troubles and reforms to safeguard its independence. The current VOA director, Michael Abramowitz, has expressed his intent to cooperate with the new administration during the transition.