Kari Lake, an adviser to President Donald Trump and overseer of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, staunchly defended the administration's significant reforms to Voice of America (VOA) during a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill.
Lake appeared before lawmakers to justify the administration's decision to implement substantial funding and staffing reductions at VOA, a government-funded news organization.
As reported by Straight Arrow News, Lake faced intense scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers, who criticized both the drastic cuts to the agency and her persistent refusal to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election.
During the hearing, Lake condemned the news organization as a prime example of government inefficiency and biased reporting. "This place is rotten," she declared. "Its rotten to its core. President Trump has asked me to go in and clean it up."
Despite VOA's claims of being a nonpartisan news outlet, Lake accused it of disseminating "anti-American propaganda." She cited specific instances, including the refusal to label Hamas as terrorists, the glamorization of Che Guevara, the airing of campaign-style videos favoring President Biden, and the broadcast of a graphic depicting Trump with a swastika over his face.
Her testimony was consistent with a March executive order from President Trump, which called for a significant reduction of federal agencies, including the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Consequently, over 600 VOA employees were laid off, and the agency's headquarters lease in Washington, D.C., was terminated.
Although a judge temporarily halted the layoffs amid ongoing litigation, Lake informed lawmakers of her intention to reduce the agency's workforce to just 18 employees, aligning with the administration's goal of drastically curtailing the agency's scope and expenditures.
Democratic lawmakers, however, challenged Lake's authority and the Trump administration's plans, accusing them of undermining journalism and democratic principles. "Voice of America is not only about talking about America its about reporting on the world," stated Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Penn. "Millions of people for decades have relied upon it. So, for those of you who think this was about reform, its not. Its about shutting down media."
Lake also faced criticism from lawmakers regarding her refusal to acknowledge the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., expressed concern over Lake's new responsibilities, stating, "You have, to this day, refused to acknowledge that President Trump lost the 2020 election something members of his own Justice Department have admitted. So it concerns me that you are now tasked with this responsibility of ensuring democracy around the world when you wont even accept free and fair elections."
Lake, who transitioned from a broadcasting career to challenge Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in the 2022 Arizona governor's race, contested her more than 17,000-vote loss multiple times in court without success. She later ran against U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego for a U.S. Senate seat and was defeated.
Following the hearing, President Trump took to Truth Social, urging Congress to completely shut down Voice of America.
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