Voice of America Drops AP, Reuters & AFP as Trump Signs Order to Gut it/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday, directing massive cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA) and other government-funded news outlets. The order reduces operations at seven agencies to the legal minimum. Additionally, VOA is terminating contracts with The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, a move championed by Kari Lake, Trump’s handpicked head of the agency. Lake claims the cuts will save $53 million, but critics see it as part of the administration’s broader crackdown on the press.
Trump’s VOA Shake-Up: Quick Looks
- Executive Order Signed: Trump slashes U.S. global media operations, reducing them to legal minimums.
- VOA Drops AP, Reuters, AFP: Journalists told to stop using wire service reports, effective immediately.
- Kari Lake Leads the Overhaul: The former broadcaster-turned-politician argues that VOA should produce its own news instead of relying on external sources.
- Cost-Cutting Justification: Lake says the move will save $53 million, but critics call it politically motivated.
- Press Relations at a Breaking Point: The AP is suing the White House after its reporters were banned from press pools, and the Pentagon has removed journalists from key postings.
Voice of America Drops AP, Reuters & AFP as Trump Signs Order to Gut it
Deep Look:
Trump Moves to Dismantle Voice of America, Slash Media Funding
In a major restructuring of government-funded media, President Trump signed an executive order Friday gutting the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This order directly impacts Voice of America (VOA) and other affiliated news outlets, which have long provided American perspectives on global news.
As part of the restructuring:
- Seven agencies, including those supporting museums, libraries, and homelessness initiatives, will have their operations reduced to the bare legal minimum.
- VOA will immediately cut its contracts with major news services—The Associated Press (AP), Reuters, and Agence France-Presse (AFP).
- Trump’s administration argues that these cuts are about reducing waste, but critics see it as an attempt to control information.
Kari Lake Takes Charge at Voice of America
Leading the charge is Kari Lake, the former broadcaster and failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate. While awaiting Senate confirmation to officially lead USAGM, she has been working as a special advisor to the agency.
“We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,” Lake stated. “With a nearly billion-dollar budget, we should be producing news ourselves. And if that’s not possible, the American taxpayer should demand to know why.”
How Will This Impact VOA’s Coverage?
Wire services help news organizations cover stories in regions where they don’t have reporters on the ground. Without AP, Reuters, and AFP content, VOA’s reach and reporting capabilities could be severely impacted.
Some VOA journalists, speaking anonymously, expressed concern that the administration is turning the agency into a political mouthpiece.
Broader Crackdown on the Media?
The move to gut VOA comes amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and the press:
- The White House banned AP reporters from press pools, prompting AP to file a lawsuit.
- The Pentagon removed longtime journalists from their posts.
- Several news organizations face lawsuits and FCC investigations under Trump’s media crackdown.
In another social media post, Lake claimed she was in a “fact-finding mode” and had uncovered wasteful spending that needed to be cut.
What’s Next?
- The executive order is expected to face legal and congressional challenges.
- Senate confirmation hearings for Kari Lake will be closely watched as Democrats question her independence and intentions.
- Journalists and media advocates are expected to push back against restrictions on press freedom.
While Lake and Trump’s allies argue that the cuts are about efficiency, critics warn this is another step toward limiting independent reporting—especially from a government-funded agency historically meant to promote unbiased news worldwide.
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