Kari Lake’s Surprising New Role After VOA Disbandment
Kari Lake, the former Arizona news anchor and failed Republican candidate for governor and U.S. Senate, is being moved to the State Department after overseeing the controversial dismantling of Voice of America (VOA). This marks the first major staff shuffle in the Trump administration, as Lake transitions from her brief role as senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to an undefined position at the State Department.
The Washington Post first reported the personnel change on April 9, describing it as the “first high-profile shuffle for a political appointee of the second Trump administration,” according to Arizona Republic. While the exact parameters of Lake’s new role remain unclear, sources indicate she will coordinate between USAGM and the State Department as VOA’s broadcast footprint continues to shrink.
The move comes less than a month after President Donald Trump signed a March 14 executive order to dismantle several government agencies, including the USAGM, which oversees VOA. The day after the executive order, Lake told VOA employees to “check their email” as part of a process placing approximately 1,000 journalists on indefinite leave.
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A Winding Path to Government Service
Lake’s journey through the Trump administration has been marked by shifting roles and responsibilities. Initially rumored for positions ranging from ambassador to Mexico to White House press secretary, Lake was ultimately announced as the head of VOA in December. At that time, Trump declared she would “ensure that the American values of Freedom and Liberty are broadcast around the World FAIRLY and ACCURATELY, unlike the lies spread by the Fake News Media.”
Despite her initial enthusiasm—Lake stated the VOA would “excel in its mission: chronicling America’s achievements worldwide” under her leadership—she never received the formal nomination for VOA director. Instead, she was appointed as a senior adviser to USAGM, a role that quickly evolved from potential leadership to overseeing the agency’s dismantling.
“I remain committed to effectuating President Trump’s mission to modernize and reform the way we tell America’s story around the world while protecting the interest of the American taxpayer,” Lake said in a statement to the Washington Post. “We look forward to working with interagency counterparts including the Department of State under the strong leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” she added, as reported by Yahoo News.
"Kari Lake buried on MSNBC over 'silly and stupid' new job in Trump's State Department" – Raw Story #SmartNews https://t.co/hnVANdxZza
— Caroline Ramsey-Hamilton (@RiskAlert) April 12, 2025
Shifting Positions on VOA
Lake’s stance on VOA has evolved dramatically in a short period. During a February 25 speech, she expressed hope that “journalists at VOA are looking forward to having me there because I believe we will accomplish great things together.” Just one month earlier, at the Conservative Political Action Conference, she had described VOA as a potential “weapon” in an “information war.”
However, after Trump’s executive order to dismantle the agency, Lake’s rhetoric shifted dramatically. She characterized USAGM as “a giant rot and burden to the American taxpayer—a national security risk for this nation—and irretrievably broken,” despite having previously described it as “worth trying to save.”
This rapid reversal has drawn criticism from media experts and former VOA officials. Robert Reilly, who served as VOA director twice, including during Trump’s first term, expressed concern about the agency’s dismantling. “VOA’s foreign audiences must be puzzled as to why the VOA is no longer broadcasting to them,” Reilly told the Daily Beast, calling the situation “a self-inflicted public diplomacy disaster.”
Legal Challenges to Shutdown
The Trump administration’s effort to shut down VOA faces significant legal obstacles. Federal judges have temporarily prevented the complete shutdown, ruling that the administration cannot unilaterally destroy a news organization established by congressional law. Approximately 3,500 journalists have been affected by the attempted dismantling.
VOA, founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda, reached a weekly audience of 354 million people as of December. Throughout its history, the organization has maintained relative independence from the U.S. government while providing news to people living under authoritarian regimes worldwide.
Lake, who has consistently supported Trump’s agenda despite policy reversals, recently praised the president’s decision to pause tariff hikes (except for China) after previously celebrating the global tariff pressure. “If Communist China thought President Trump was bluffing, they didn’t do the assigned reading,” she posted on social media alongside an image of Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” in Chinese, according to Arizona Republic.
Lake’s transition to the State Department could take effect as early as this week, as the administration continues its efforts to reshape America’s international media presence and diplomatic approach.
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