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A group of veteran Voice of America staffers sued its parent agency and Donald Trump appointee Kari Lake on Monday, alleging that Lake ordered the U.S.-funded news organization to air pro-Trump propaganda in violation of its charter after forcing out the majority of its staff.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, also names Michael Rigas, whom Trump recently appointed as acting CEO for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA’s parent agency. At press time, USAGM had not responded to requests for comment.
Four senior VOA personnel brought the legal action: Barry Newhouse, former acting director of Voice of America’s central news division; Ayesha Tanzeem, director of VOA’s South and Central Asia division; Dong Hyuk Lee, head of its Korean-language service; and Ksenia Turkova, a journalist for the Russian language service. Press freedom organizations PEN America and Reporters Without Borders joined as co-plaintiffs, underscoring the case’s significance to journalistic independence.
The plaintiffs allege that despite recent legal setbacks invalidating Lake’s appointment, she has continued to push content that solely promotes the administration’s perspective while lavishing praise on Trump. Among their specific claims are that VOA has been forced to broadcast White House statements nearly verbatim and has aired photos of Trump “in the style of Dear Leader Kim Jong-Il.” The lawsuit further contends that agency leadership suppressed coverage of news stories unfavorable to the administration, violating First Amendment principles.
Voice of America was established to provide U.S.-style journalism to international audiences, particularly in regions with limited press freedoms. Its congressional charter explicitly requires the organization to remain “objective” and serve as a “consistently reliable and authoritative source of news.” Furthermore, a legal firewall exists specifically to prevent the agency from becoming a propaganda tool for any single political perspective.
“The integrity of VOA’s content is not just a legal requirement — it is in the national interest,” the plaintiffs said in a joint statement. “For decades, VOA has represented America’s commitment to freedom of the press to audiences who are denied this right in their own countries. Allowing that legacy to be compromised from within serves no one — least of all the United States.”
In an internal communication to VOA staff, the plaintiffs emphasized that it was “critical that VOA’s journalism meets the legal standards imposed by Congress when they approved our funding.”
The current lawsuit comes amid ongoing turmoil at the agency. All plaintiff staffers except Turkova were placed on administrative leave last year. Turkova, a contractor, reportedly declined to return to work due to concerns about political interference in her reporting. According to NPR, she feared she would be unable to report freely without influence from the Trump administration’s agenda.
This lawsuit follows a significant legal development earlier this month when U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled in a separate case brought by other VOA and USAGM employees that Lake’s appointment as acting CEO was illegal. That ruling invalidated many of her actions, including mass layoffs across the agency. Judge Lamberth also ordered VOA to allow staff to return to work, though the government has indicated it plans to appeal these rulings.
The case highlights growing tensions between journalistic independence and political influence at U.S. government-funded media outlets. Voice of America, founded in 1942, has historically maintained editorial independence while receiving federal funding, serving as a demonstration of American press freedom to international audiences, particularly in regions where independent media is restricted or suppressed.
Media experts note that preserving VOA’s editorial firewall is crucial not only for its journalistic credibility but also for America’s global standing as a defender of press freedom. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the future of publicly funded journalism in the United States and its role in international diplomacy and soft power.
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6 Comments
This lawsuit raises serious concerns about protecting the independence and journalistic integrity of Voice of America. It’s crucial that taxpayer-funded media outlets maintain objectivity and resist political interference, no matter the administration in power.
Allegations of forcing out staff and airing pro-Trump propaganda on a US government media outlet are very troubling. The public deserves access to factual, unbiased reporting, not partisan propaganda masquerading as news.
This lawsuit is an important test case for the future of Voice of America. The organization must remain a reliable, impartial source of news and information, not a mouthpiece for any administration.
The stakes are high here. VOA plays a vital role in promoting democratic values and freedom of the press globally. I hope the courts uphold its journalistic integrity and prevent further political manipulation.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing journalistic integrity with political influence, especially when it comes to government-funded media. It will be interesting to see how the courts rule on the legality of these alleged actions.
I’m glad to see press freedom organizations joining this lawsuit. Maintaining the independence of VOA is vital for upholding democratic principles and providing a trustworthy source of information, both domestically and globally.