Kari Lake, a staunch supporter of the MAGA movement, recently secured a position in the Trump administration as the head of Voice of America (VOA). However, her tenure is threatened before it even begins, as Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) propose significant cuts to federal agencies, including VOA.
VOA, established during World War II to counteract Nazi propaganda, broadcasts news in 48 languages to over 354 million people worldwide. Despite its historical significance, Musk has criticized the organization, labeling it as a haven for “radical left crazy people” and questioning its $1 billion annual expenditure of taxpayer money.
Yes, shut them down.
1. Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Hello??
2. Nobody listens to them anymore.
3. It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money. https://t.co/PnmN4erD91 [1]
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 9, 2025 [2]
In response to these proposed cuts, Lake finds herself in a precarious position. At the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), she acknowledged the public’s frustration with government spending and waste, sentiments amplified by DOGE’s recent findings. However, she advocated for a more measured approach regarding VOA, emphasizing its 83-year history of impactful journalism. Lake suggested that, with proper oversight, VOA could continue to serve as a vital tool for promoting American values of liberty and freedom globally.
“I understand the sentiment. We’re finding out so much about our government right now. It’s an assault on the people. The money we’re spending, the waste. What we’re finding from DOGE has just been outrageous. So I understand the American people are like, ‘Get rid of it. If it’s not absolutely mandatory or necessary, get rid of it!’” she said in her perquisite preamble.
“But I do think it’s premature to say that,” she added. “This has been an 83-year outlet that has been doing in many of those years good work. Some of the work has been incredible. And some of the work has been pitiful.”
“We need to do less pitiful work, more incredible work. It’s a soft power. When you look at the budget, it’s a relatively small budget item. If we can get in there and make sure we’re doing good, honest journalism, spreading the truth about America and liberty and freedom, what we can do for the world is absolutely immense.”
I've heard the calls to shut down @VoaNews [3]. I understand them, but I disagree with them.
I think it's worth getting in, digging around, fixing what's wrong, bolstering what's good, & putting out an incredible product that fulfills its mission, broadcasting the American story… pic.twitter.com/ZcVTcXGZJJ [4]
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) February 23, 2025 [5]
This situation highlights the broader challenges within the administration as it seeks to balance fiscal responsibility with the preservation of institutions that have long been considered essential to U.S. public diplomacy. As Musk’s cost-cutting measures face scrutiny, the future of agencies like VOA remains uncertain, and officials like Lake must navigate the complex dynamics of supporting the administration’s agenda while advocating for the programs they lead.
Let’s be real, in the weeks since Musk has been empowered to run roughshod over the government, he’s fired people responsible for safeguarding our nuclear arsenal, slashed funding for critical medical research and dismissed nearly 6,000 veterans in the civil service. DOGE’s first target was USAID, the largest provider of foreign assistance around the world.
With international aid frozen for 90 days, disease outbreaks and starvation deaths now seem inevitable. Lifesaving programs that provide treatment for millions living with HIV in Africa are in jeopardy.
So let’s be honest, do we honestly think he’s going to save Kari Lake?
I think the answer to that is a big fat NOPE.
would certainly be something if Lake got DOGE’d out of a job before it even began https://t.co/lEU3JwjozS [6]
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) February 22, 2025 [7]