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Trump’s Nominee to Oversee VOA, Sarah B. Rogers, Suggests Return of Journalists on Leave
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- President Trump’s nominee, Sarah B. Rogers, stated during her confirmation hearing that if confirmed, she plans to reinstate many journalists who were placed on paid leave at Voice of America since early in Trump’s second term.
- This marks a reversal from Trump’s previous efforts to shutter Voice of America and other federally funded news groups, which faced bipartisan opposition in Congress due to their role in countering misinformation from adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran.
- Kari Lake, a Trump ally and former acting leader of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, attempted to fire hundreds of VOA journalists and cut funding to related news organizations, but her actions were blocked by courts and ultimately declared illegal.
- Hundreds of VOA journalists and staff have been on paid leave since early 2025 following an executive order by Trump to close these news groups, with ongoing legal battles over their reinstatement.
- The U.S. Court of Appeals recently sided with the government in a dispute over whether courts can mandate specific personnel decisions related to the VOA workers on leave.
