VOA Gutted: Mass Layoffs Under Trump Advisor | JQJO

Trump advisor Kari Lake initiated mass layoffs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, impacting 639 employees, primarily from Voice of America (VOA). Lake justified the cuts as dismantling a "bloated bureaucracy," citing an executive order. The layoffs, effective September 1st, sparked outrage from employees and lawsuits, accusing Lake of silencing independent journalism crucial for countering foreign propaganda. The move has significantly reduced VOA's capacity to report to countries under authoritarian regimes. Lake is scheduled to testify before Congress on the matter.