State Department Watchdog Slams Voice of America Cuts
The State Department Inspector General reported that Kari Lake's efforts to shutter Voice of America harmed national interests and increased taxpayer costs.
The Office of Inspector General of the United States Department of State released a report concluding that the Trump administration's attempts to shutter Voice of America harmed U.S. national interests and weakened the ability to counter global disinformation. Under the leadership of Kari Lake, who was appointed to lead the United States Agency for Global Media, the administration fired nearly 1,400 employees and reduced broadcasts from 49 languages to fewer than 10.
Lake characterized the agency as a "rotten piece of fish," citing waste and fraud as justification for the cuts. However, the watchdog report found that these actions actually increased taxpayer costs. The government spent over $100 million to keep journalists on paid leave after federal courts voided Lake's appointment in March and enjoined the closures.
The report detailed critical operational failures resulting from the staff reductions. Most notably, the agency had only one Persian-speaking employee available to cover a U.S.-led attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. The Inspector General noted that the reduction in operations diminished the agency's capacity to fulfill its statutory mission of supporting freedom and democracy worldwide.
