Trump's administration turns Voice of America into a pro-Trump channel

In the United States, the Voice of America (VOA) has faced significant operational challenges since mid-March when funding cuts were ordered by President Donald Trump. The cuts were a part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to dismantle government-funded news services, which they accused of promoting a liberal bias in their reporting. Amid these cuts, Kari Lake, appointed by Trump, announced an agreement with One America News (OAN) to provide content and newsfeed services for VOA and other U.S.-funded broadcasters. OAN is known for its staunchly pro-Trump stance and has been criticized for spreading misinformation, particularly regarding the 2020 presidential election. The arrangement raised concerns among VOA employees and journalists, as they fear that this could further politicize the service and diminish its credibility as a news source. Lake justified the agreement as a cost-saving measure for taxpayers, claiming the services from OAN would be offered free of charge. However, observations from journalists indicate that VOA's operations might be reduced to a shell of their former selves, prioritizing pro-Trump narratives at the expense of balanced reporting. Employees at VOA, many of which have been sidelined, expressed their intention to fight for the integrity of the service and uphold its mission to provide reliable and authoritative news to the global audience. The eventual implications of integrating OAN's reporting into VOA remain unclear, but there is consensus among journalists that the departure from traditional journalistic standards is troubling and contrary to the agency's original charter. The struggle over the future of VOA continues to unfold amidst ongoing court battles related to funding and operational mandates.