'Rotten to the Core': Trump Ally Demands Dismantling of $950M Agency

Paul Riverbank, 6/26/2025Trump ally demands dismantling of $950M US global media agency, sparking fierce debate.

The Future of American Global Broadcasting Hangs in Balance

A dramatic showdown over America's international broadcasting apparatus unfolded on Capitol Hill yesterday, laying bare the stark ideological battle over how the United States projects its voice to the world.

In testimony that left many veteran observers stunned, Trump advisor Kari Lake launched an unprecedented assault on the U.S. Agency for Global Media, comparing the $950 million organization to "rotting fish" and advocating for its virtual dismantling by 2026.

I've covered Washington for three decades, and rarely have I witnessed such raw contempt for a federal agency from its own leadership. Lake's performance before the House Oversight Committee wasn't just criticism – it was a declaration of war on the institution she oversees.

The numbers tell part of the story. Under Lake's watch, USAGM has already shed 85% of its workforce. But the deeper narrative here isn't about staffing levels – it's about America's declining investment in soft power at precisely the moment when information warfare is reshaping global politics.

"The Chinese Communist Party has more control over what we put out editorially than people who are management at the agency," Lake claimed, though she offered little concrete evidence to support this explosive assertion.

Republican lawmakers largely cheered Lake's scorched-earth approach. Rep. Tim Burchett's comparison of USAGM to a Model T felt particularly apt – though perhaps not in the way he intended. Like that revolutionary vehicle, Voice of America once transformed how America engaged with the world.

The Democratic response was predictably fierce. Rep. Madeleine Dean's characterization of Lake as "a propaganda machine" may have been politically charged, but it highlighted genuine concerns about politicizing what's meant to be an independent broadcaster.

Here's what's often overlooked: While Lake's comparison to iHeartMedia's $90 million operation sounds compelling, it misses crucial context. Commercial radio networks don't maintain critical foreign language services or operate in heavily censored markets where independent media can't survive.

The hearing's most revealing moment came during an exchange about VOA's audience metrics. Lake's dismissal of the agency's reported 354 million weekly listeners as suspect "government numbers" betrayed either a troubling ignorance of industry-standard measurement practices or a deliberate attempt to undermine the agency's credibility.

As this drama continues to unfold, the fundamental question isn't about budgets or staffing levels – it's about America's voice in the world. In an era of rising authoritarianism and sophisticated disinformation campaigns, are we really prepared to surrender one of our most powerful tools for engaging global audiences?

The answer to that question may shape international perceptions of American values and influence for generations to come.

The Future of American Global Broadcasting Hangs in BalanceA dramatic showdown over America's international broadcasting apparatus unfolded on Capitol Hill yesterday, laying bare the stark ideological battle over how the United States projects its voice to the world.In testimony that left many veteran observers stunned, Trump advisor Kari Lake launched an unprecedented assault on the U.S. Agency for Global Media, comparing the $950 million organization to "rotting fish" and advocating for its virtual dismantling by 2026.I've covered Washington for three decades, and rarely have I witnessed such raw contempt for a federal agency from its own leadership. Lake's performance before the House Oversight Committee wasn't just criticism – it was a declaration of war on the institution she oversees.The numbers tell part of the story. Under Lake's watch, USAGM has already shed 85% of its workforce. But the deeper narrative here isn't about staffing levels – it's about America's declining investment in soft power at precisely the moment when information warfare is reshaping global politics."The Chinese Communist Party has more control over what we put out editorially than people who are management at the agency," Lake claimed, though she offered little concrete evidence to support this explosive assertion.Republican lawmakers largely cheered Lake's scorched-earth approach. Rep. Tim Burchett's comparison of USAGM to a Model T felt particularly apt – though perhaps not in the way he intended. Like that revolutionary vehicle, Voice of America once transformed how America engaged with the world.The Democratic response was predictably fierce. Rep. Madeleine Dean's characterization of Lake as "a propaganda machine" may have been politically charged, but it highlighted genuine concerns about politicizing what's meant to be an independent broadcaster.Here's what's often overlooked: While Lake's comparison to iHeartMedia's $90 million operation sounds compelling, it misses crucial context. Commercial radio networks don't maintain critical foreign language services or operate in heavily censored markets where independent media can't survive.The hearing's most revealing moment came during an exchange about VOA's audience metrics. Lake's dismissal of the agency's reported 354 million weekly listeners as suspect "government numbers" betrayed either a troubling ignorance of industry-standard measurement practices or a deliberate attempt to undermine the agency's credibility.As this drama continues to unfold, the fundamental question isn't about budgets or staffing levels – it's about America's voice in the world. In an era of rising authoritarianism and sophisticated disinformation campaigns, are we really prepared to surrender one of our most powerful tools for engaging global audiences?The answer to that question may shape international perceptions of American values and influence for generations to come.