Overview

• Lake told the House Foreign Affairs Committee the U.S. Agency for Global Media is “rotten to the core,” defended cutting 85% of staff and urged folding Voice of America into the State Department
• She said VOA crews broadcast President Trump’s message in Farsi during Iran’s weekend nuclear facility strikes to underscore her push for direct presidential communication
• Democrats accused Lake of seeking to turn the independent broadcaster into a Trump administration mouthpiece, with Rep. Madeleine Dean labeling her a “propaganda machine”
• During her testimony Lake spread an unsubstantiated rumor about Rep. Greg Stanton having a “gay lover,” drawing objections from lawmakers over her credibility
• Legal challenges to Trump’s March executive order dismantling USAGM remain pending, with a June 27 hearing to decide if VOA and other services must resume operations