The shocking impact of Donald Trump’s executive order on the oldest news network in the world.
The Trump administration cut more than 500 additional jobs at Voice of America, delivering what could be a fatal blow to the U.S. government-sponsored media outlet that has been repeatedly hit by funding cuts.
Over vehement objections from Democrats, Kari Lake, acting CEO of VOA’s parent company, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, announced the layoffs on Friday in a social media post, The Washington Times
reported.
“We are conducting this (reduction in force) at the President’s direction to help reduce the federal bureaucracy, improve agency service and save the American people more of their hard-earned money,” Lake wrote.
“USAGM will continue to fulfill its statutory mission after this RIF — and will likely improve its ability to function and provide the truth to people across the world who live under murderous communist governments and other tyrannical regimes,” she added.
Lake said 532 full-time VOA positions were eliminated.
“I look forward to taking additional steps in the coming months to improve the functioning of a very broken agency and make sure America’s voice is heard abroad where it matters most,” Lake said.
The cuts are the latest chapter in VOA’s unraveling. The outlet, created during World War II to combat Nazi propaganda, has long served as a platform for U.S. news in parts of the world where a free press is scarce.
But the Trump administration has said the outlet had become a shell of its former self and mostly now serves as another outlet for left-wing propaganda.
In March, nearly all VOA staffers were placed on administrative leave after President Trump issued an executive order dismantling the USAGM. Since then, most of VOA’s publishing channels have been dormant.
Six hundred contractors were let go in May, and hundreds more employees received termination notices in June. Some of those notices were later temporarily rescinded, but Lake, who worked as a journalist in the Phoenix area for decades, had signaled that additional reductions were coming.
Friday’s move appears to complete that process.
The announcement came one day after a federal judge blocked the removal of VOA director Michael Abramowitz. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled Abramowitz could only be removed with the approval of the International Broadcasting Advisory Board.
Employees who have sued to stop the job cuts said the latest firings violate federal law requiring congressional approval.
“We find Lake’s continued attacks on our agency abhorrent,” they said in a statement. “We are looking forward to her deposition to hear whether her plan to dismantle VOA was done with the rigorous review process that Congress requires. So far, we have not seen any evidence of that.”
A longtime Voice of America employee was arrested in July, accused of threatening to kill Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, along with her staff and their families, including a call in which he allegedly vowed to shoot the congresswoman “between the eyes” with an AK-47.
According to the Justice Department, 64-year-old Seth Jason of Edgewater, Maryland, made at least eight threatening phone calls from the government-funded broadcaster between October 2023 and January 2024, the New York Post reported.
“I’m looking forward to your book signing. We are all armed and ready to take care of you,” Jason said in one message for the Georgia Republican lawmaker, federal prosecutors say.
“We’re coming after you and your staff, and we are locked and loaded. We’re going to take you all out,” the call continued. “We’ve got our AK-47s. You’re going to get one between the eyes. Bam, bam, bam.”
The calls “were made from various phone lines connected to studios and control rooms at Voice of America headquarters,” prosecutors added.
Jason was taken into custody by U.S. Capitol Police in coordination with the Anne Arundel County Police Department, where he had served as a volunteer reserve officer since 2016, The Post noted further.
Viral Immigration Records Spark Heated Clash Between Digital Authenticity and Historical Context
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A photograph currently circulating on social media platforms has reignited a complex discussion regarding the historical immigration records of former First Lady Melania Trump. The image, which some online users claim shows a connection to the Jeffrey Epstein investigative materials, has prompted experts to provide clarity on standard modeling industry practices during the 1990s.
Standard Immigration Procedures for International Models
Legal analysts and immigration experts emphasize that the document in question—if authentic—likely reflects the standard administrative path for international talent entering the United States during that era.
The EB-1 "Extraordinary Ability" Visa: It is a matter of public record that Melania Trump was granted an EB-1 visa in 2001, a category reserved for individuals with acclaimed professional achievements. 📑
Agency Sponsorship: During the 1990s, it was standard procedure for modeling agencies or established business entities to act as sponsors for H-1B or O-1 visas.
The "Einstein Visa" Moniker: While some online discourse uses the term "Epstein Visa," experts clarify that the EB-1 is colloquially known as the "Einstein Visa" due to its high standards for entry.
Verification Challenges in the Digital Age
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The emergence of this photograph highlights the significant challenge of separating verified investigative data from unconfirmed social media claims.
Lack of Official Confirmation: As of March 20, 2026, no federal agency, including the DOJ or USCIS, has verified a direct link between the former First Lady’s immigration filings and the Epstein investigative archives.
Contextual Misinterpretation: Supporters of the former First Lady argue that circulating individual pages without a full case file often leads to misleading narratives, especially in high-profile political environments. 🛡️
Digital Forensics: Observers note that in an era of sophisticated digital manipulation, the authenticity of any "leaked" image must be subjected to rigorous forensic review before being accepted as evidentiary fact.
Impact on the Broader Epstein Investigation
The focus on viral imagery comes amid the continued release of nearly three million pages of documents related to the Epstein case, a process that continues to fuel public demand for transparency.
Information Overload: The sheer volume of records released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act has created an environment where unverified snippets can quickly go viral, potentially obscuring legitimate investigative findings. ⚖️
The Threshold for Evidence: Legal commentators stress that "association" or the presence of a name in an administrative record does not constitute proof of a criminal connection or unusual favor.
Institutional Integrity: The controversy underscores the need for responsible reporting and a reliance on authenticated, primary sources to maintain the integrity of the ongoing national conversation. 📌
Trump Dragged Into Epstein Scandal as Logs Come to Light
1. The "May Briefing" Revelation
New reports from March 25, 2026, indicate that Attorney General Pam Bondi privately informed President Trump as early as May 2025 that his name appeared in investigative documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Internal Briefings: The meeting reportedly included Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. While the White House characterizes this as a "routine briefing," the timing suggests it may have triggered the administration’s recent aggressive stance against the release of the files. 📑
Context of Mention: Being mentioned in the files does not inherently imply criminal wrongdoing. Trump’s former social ties to Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s are well-documented, but the refusal to disclose the nature of these mentions is fueling public speculation. ⚖️
Official Stance: White House spokesperson Steven Cheung maintains that Trump cut ties with Epstein decades ago at Mar-a-Lago, labeling him a "creep" long before the 2008 or 2019 charges. 🛡️
2. The Congressional "GOP Revolt"
In a significant break from party discipline, key Republican members of the House Oversight Committee have joined Democrats to demand transparency.
Subpoena Power: The committee voted 8-2 to subpoena the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Epstein files. High-profile MAGA Republicans, including Nancy Mace and Scott Perry, voted in favor, signaling a genuine desire for accountability within the base. 🏛️
Ghislaine Maxwell Testimony: The committee also moved to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell. Concerns have been raised regarding Todd Blanche’s planned meeting with her, as critics fear the potential use of presidential pardon power to influence her testimony. ⚖️
Public Perception: A March 2026 poll shows that only 40% of Republicans approve of how the President is handling the Epstein issue, while 36% disapprove, indicating a rare moment of vulnerability among his core supporters. 📉
3. The "Obama Distraction" Strategy
To counter the mounting Epstein headlines, the administration has revived a classic political tactic: targeting former President Barack Obama.
The Coup Allegation: Trump and Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard have accused the Obama administration of "manufacturing" intelligence regarding 2016 Russian election interference to stage a "coup" against Trump. 🛡️
Intelligence Consensus: Analysts note that Gabbard's claims contradict the 2020 bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee report, which confirmed that Russia did interfere to help Trump and hurt Hillary Clinton. 📑
The Immunity Irony: Even as Trump calls for Obama’s prosecution, his own 2025 Supreme Court victory regarding presidential immunity would legally prevent his predecessor from being indicted for official acts. ⚖️
