Editing Voice of America (section)

===Politicization under the first Trump presidency===
After the [[First inauguration of Donald Trump|January 2017 inauguration]] of US President [[Donald Trump]], tweets by Voice of America seemed to support debunked claims by White House press secretary [[Sean Spicer]] about the crowd size and related media coverage. This raised concerns over possible attempts by Trump to politicize VOA.<ref name="TrumpTV">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/26/voice-of-america-says-it-wont-become-trump-tv/ Voice of America says it won't become Trump TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818125538/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/26/voice-of-america-says-it-wont-become-trump-tv/|date=August 18, 2018}}, ''The Washington Post''</ref><ref name="stamp">[http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/donald-trump-voice-america-234078 Trump moves to put his own stamp on Voice of America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331114406/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/donald-trump-voice-america-234078|date=March 31, 2017}}, ''Politico''</ref><ref name="megaphone">[https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-ol-voice-of-america-cold-war-bennett-20170215-htmlstory.html Can Donald Trump turn Voice of America into his own private megaphone?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308101933/https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-ol-voice-of-america-cold-war-bennett-20170215-htmlstory.html|date=March 8, 2021}}, ''LA Times''</ref><ref name="salon/01/24/2017">[http://www.salon.com/2017/01/24/donald-trump-sends-two-aides-to-voice-of-america-studios-raising-fears-hes-going-to-politicize-the-outlet/ Donald Trump sends two aides to Voice of America studios, raising fears he's going to politicize the outlet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331031358/http://www.salon.com/2017/01/24/donald-trump-sends-two-aides-to-voice-of-america-studios-raising-fears-hes-going-to-politicize-the-outlet/|date=March 31, 2017}}, ''Salon''</ref> An Obama-era law gave the powers of the board of the [[Broadcasting Board of Governors]] to a CEO appointed by the president, and Trump's selection of aides to work with the CEO - a former writer for the [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] website ''The Daily Surge'' and a field director from [[Americans for Prosperity]] - during the [[First presidential transition of Donald Trump|presidential transition]], raised concerns about VOA being transformed into a more traditional state propaganda platform.<ref name="TrumpTV" /> VOA officials responded with assurances that they would not become "Trump TV",<ref name="TrumpTV" /> citing existing laws that prevent interference in editorial processes.<ref name="megaphone" />

During the COVID-19 pandemic, claims and messaging by the Trump administration diverged from that of public health experts and journalists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Superville |first1=Darlene |last2=Woodward |first2=Calvin |date=March 4, 2020 |title=A disconnect between Trump and health officials on COVID-19 |url=https://apnews.com/7b4368cae934785657acac1f09873505 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="PazApril9">{{cite news |last1=Paz |first1=Christian |date=April 27, 2020 |title=All the President's Lies About the Coronavirus |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/04/trumps-lies-about-coronavirus/608647/ |access-date=May 10, 2020 |work=[[The Atlantic]]}}</ref> In April 2020, the [[White House]] published an article in its daily newsletter critical of VOA coverage of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|coronavirus pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 2020 |title=Amid a Pandemic, Voice of America Spends Your Money to Promote Foreign Propaganda |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/amid-a-pandemic-voice-of-america-spends-your-money-to-promote-foreign-propaganda/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120200021/https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/articles/amid-a-pandemic-voice-of-america-spends-your-money-to-promote-foreign-propaganda/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=June 16, 2020 |website=[[whitehouse.gov]] |via=[[NARA|National Archives]] |quote=Even worse, while much of the U.S. media takes its lead from China, VOA went one step further: It created graphics with Communist government statistics to compare China's Coronavirus death toll to America's.}}</ref> [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) press official Michawn Rich sent a memo to agency employees telling them to deny interview requests by VOA.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jerreat |first=Jessica |date=June 14, 2020 |title=CDC Media Guidance Blacklists VOA Interview Requests |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/press-freedom_cdc-media-guidance-blacklists-voa-interview-requests/6191106.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903204825/https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/cdc-media-guidance-blacklists-voa-interview-requests |archive-date=September 3, 2020 |access-date=June 16, 2020 |publisher=Voice of America}}</ref> When VOA reported that Vice President [[Mike Pence]]'s office required the press to wear masks to cover his visit to the Mayo Clinic, his office then threatened retaliation against the reporter, according to the ''Washington Post.''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=April 30, 2020 |title=Pence's staff threatens action against reporter who tweeted about visit to clinic without surgical mask |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/pence-staff-threatens-action-against-reporter-who-tweeted-about-visit-to-clinic-without-surgical-mask/2020/04/30/27c63056-8b0a-11ea-9df-990f9dcc71fc_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200830161659/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/pence-staff-threatens-action-against-reporter-who-tweeted-about-visit-to-clinic-without-surgical-mask/2020/04/30/27c63056-8b0a-11ea-9dfd-990f9dcc71fc_story.html |archive-date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

On June 3, 2020, the US Senate confirmed [[Michael Pack]], a conservative documentarian and close ally of [[Steve Bannon]], to serve as head of the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edmondson |first=Catie |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Senate Confirms Conservative Filmmaker to Lead U.S. Media Agency |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/us/politics/senate-confirms-michael-pack-voa.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604204058/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/04/us/politics/senate-confirms-michael-pack-voa.html |archive-date=2020-06-04 |access-date=June 20, 2020 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Subsequently, Director Bennet and deputy director Sandy Sugawara resigned from VOA. On June 17, the heads of VOA's Middle East Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund were all fired, their boards were dissolved, and external communications from VOA employees required approval from senior agency personnel in what one source described as an "unprecedented" move.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hansler |first1=Jennifer |last2=Stelter |first2=Brian |date=June 18, 2020 |title='Wednesday night massacre' as Trump appointee takes over at global media agency |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/17/media/us-agency-for-global-media-michael-pack/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215031602/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/17/media/us-agency-for-global-media-michael-pack/index.html |archive-date=February 15, 2021 |access-date=June 18, 2020 |work=CNN}}</ref> Four former members of the advisory boards filed suit challenging Pack's standing to fire them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Citing A Breached 'Firewall,' Media Leaders Sue U.S. Official Over Firings |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882654831/citing-a-breached-firewall-media-leaders-sue-u-s-official-over-firings |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628201042/https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882654831/citing-a-breached-firewall-media-leaders-sue-u-s-official-over-firings |archive-date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=June 29, 2020 |publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref> On July 9, NPR reported VOA would not renew the work visas of dozens of non-resident reporters, many of whom could face repercussions in their home countries.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=July 9, 2020 |title=U.S. Broadcasting Agency Will Not Extend Visas For Its Foreign Journalists |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/07/09/889301025/u-s-broadcasting-agency-will-not-extend-visas-for-its-foreign-journalists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710213127/https://www.npr.org/2020/07/09/889301025/u-s-broadcasting-agency-will-not-extend-visas-for-its-foreign-journalists |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |access-date=July 11, 2020 |publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref> In late July, four contractors and the head of VOA's [[Urdu]]-language service were suspended after a video featuring extensive clips from a Muslim-American voter conference, including a campaign message from then-Democratic presidential candidate [[Joe Biden]], was determined not to meet editorial standards and taken down.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=Daniel |date=July 30, 2020 |title=Deleted Biden video sets off a crisis at Voice of America |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/30/deleted-biden-video-sets-off-a-crisis-at-voice-of-america-388571 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807132338/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/07/30/deleted-biden-video-sets-off-a-crisis-at-voice-of-america-388571 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |access-date=August 14, 2020 |publisher=Politico}}</ref> The ''Post'' reported that VOA Spanish-language service White House correspondent's Brigo Segovia's interview with an official about the administration's response to Pack's personnel and other moves had been censored and his own access to VOA's computer system restricted.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last1=Ellison |first1=Sarah |last2=Farhi |first2=Paul |date=September 2, 2020 |title=New Voice of America overseer called foreign journalists a security risk. Now the staff is revolting. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/new-voice-of-america-overseer-called-foreign-journalists-a-security-risk-now-the-staff-is-revolting/2020/09/01/da7fa0a8-eba2-11ea-ab4e-581edb849379_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903033621/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/new-voice-of-america-overseer-called-foreign-journalists-a-security-risk-now-the-staff-is-revolting/2020/09/01/da7fa0a8-eba2-11ea-ab4e-581edb849379_story.html |archive-date=September 3, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In response to Pack's August 27 interview with ''[[The Federalist (website)|The Federalist]]'' website, a group of VOA journalists sent a letter to VOA Acting Director Elez Biberaj complaining that Pack's "comments and decisions 'endanger the personal security of VOA reporters at home and abroad, as well as threatening to harm U.S. national security objectives.{{' "}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=August 31, 2020 |title=Voice of America Journalists: New CEO Endangers Reporters, Harms U.S. Aims |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/08/31/907764105/voice-of-america-journalists-new-ceo-endangers-reporters-harms-u-s-aims |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903033622/https://www.npr.org/2020/08/31/907764105/voice-of-america-journalists-new-ceo-endangers-reporters-harms-u-s-aims |archive-date=September 3, 2020 |access-date=September 3, 2020 |publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref> VOA's response indicated the journalists may be punished for sending the letter.<ref name=":6" /> 

On September 29, six senior USAGM officials filed a whistleblower complaint in which they alleged that Pack or one of his aides had ordered research conducted into the voting history of at least one agency employee, which would be a violation of laws protecting civil servants from undue political influence.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=Daniel |date=September 30, 2020 |title=6 whistleblowers allege misconduct by government media boss |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/whistleblowers-allege-misconduct-agency-for-global-media-423758 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005112909/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/30/whistleblowers-allege-misconduct-agency-for-global-media-423758 |archive-date=October 5, 2020 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |publisher=Politico}}</ref> NPR reported that two Pack aides had compiled a report on VOA White House bureau chief [[Steven L. Herman]]'s social media postings and other writings in an attempt to charge him with a conflict of interest, and that the agency released a conflict of interest policy stating in part that a "journalist who on Facebook 'likes' a comment or political cartoon that aggressively attacks or disparages the President must recuse themselves from covering the President."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=October 4, 2020 |title=VOA White House Reporter Investigated For Anti-Trump Bias By Political Appointees |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/04/919266194/political-aides-investigate-voa-white-house-reporter-for-anti-trump-bias |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007012527/https://www.npr.org/2020/10/04/919266194/political-aides-investigate-voa-white-house-reporter-for-anti-trump-bias |archive-date=October 7, 2020 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref> A [[preliminary injunction]] issued on November 20 barred Pack "from making personnel decisions involving journalists at the networks; from directly communicating with editors and journalists employed by them; and from investigating any editors or news stories produced by them," and characterized the investigation of Herman as an "unconstitutional prior restraint" of his, his editors', and fellow journalists' free speech.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=November 20, 2020 |title=Judge slaps down Trump appointee who has sought to reshape Voice of America and related agencies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/judge-slaps-down-trump-appointee-who-has-sought-to-reshape-voice-of-america-and-related-agencies/2020/11/21/125d285a-2baa-11eb-92b7-6ef17b3fe3b4_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121055435/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/judge-slaps-down-trump-appointee-who-has-sought-to-reshape-voice-of-america-and-related-agencies/2020/11/21/125d285a-2baa-11eb-92b7-6ef17b3fe3b4_story.html |archive-date=November 21, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>

Suspended officials from Voice of America sued the agency news outlet on October 8. They accused Pack of using Voice of America as a vehicle to promote the personal agenda of President Trump and of violating a statutory firewall intended to prevent political interference with the agency, and they sought their reinstatement.<ref>''[https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-michael-pack-lawsuits-district-of-columbia-15dcdd15d92bd8ce2c07fab82a6c6070 Suspended officials sue agency that runs Voice of America] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009171737/https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-politics-michael-pack-lawsuits-district-of-columbia-15dcdd15d92bd8ce2c07fab82a6c6070|date=October 9, 2020}}'', [[Associated Press]] (AP), October 9, 2020</ref>In November 2020, US District Court [[Beryl A. Howell|Judge Beryl Howell]] found Pack violated the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights of Voice of America journalists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Nicky |date=November 22, 2020 |title=Judge rules Voice of America head curbed First Amendment rights of journalists |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/21/business/voice-of-america-violated-journalists-rights/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122025551/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/21/business/voice-of-america-violated-journalists-rights/index.html |archive-date=November 22, 2020 |access-date=November 22, 2020 |website=CNN}}</ref> 

In December 2020, ''The Washington Post'' reported that Pack was refusing to cooperate with [[President-elect of the United States|President-elect]] Biden's transition team and, in an end run around the court order, had persuaded VOA Acting Director Biberaj to step down, replacing him with [[Robert Reilly (politician)|Robert Reilly]], a former VOA director who had written critically of Muslims, gays, and lesbians.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=December 9, 2020 |title=Voice of America interim director pushed out by Trump-appointed overseer in final flurry of actions to assert control |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/voice-of-america-director-fired-trump-michael-pack/2020/12/08/3d9539f4-3997-11eb-98c4-25dc9f4987e8_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209030816/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/voice-of-america-director-fired-trump-michael-pack/2020/12/08/3d9539f4-3997-11eb-98c4-25dc9f4987e8_story.html |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=December 8, 2020 |title=Trump appointee who oversees Voice of America refuses to cooperate with Biden transition team |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-appointee-who-oversees-voice-of-america-refuses-to-cooperate-with-biden-transition-team/ar-BB1bK51F |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208175329/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-appointee-who-oversees-voice-of-america-refuses-to-cooperate-with-biden-transition-team/ar-BB1bK51F |archive-date=December 8, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>  On December 19, 33 days before President-elect Biden's inauguration, Pack named Ted Lipien, a former VOA veteran journalist who had since become an outspoken critic of the platform, as head of RFE/RL, and ''[[Breitbart]]'' writer [[Jeffrey Scott Shapiro]] as head of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=January 22, 2021 |title=USAGM Chief Fires Trump Allies Over Radio Free Europe And Other Networks |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959848852/usagm-chief-fires-trump-allies-over-radio-free-europe-and-other-networks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217230144/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/22/959848852/usagm-chief-fires-trump-allies-over-radio-free-europe-and-other-networks |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=USAGM |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Ted Lipien returns to U.S. international broadcasting as head of RFE/RL |url=https://www.usagm.gov/2020/12/18/ted-lipien-returns-to-u-s-international-broadcasting-as-head-of-rfe-rl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217230148/https://www.usagm.gov/2020/12/18/ted-lipien-returns-to-u-s-international-broadcasting-as-head-of-rfe-rl/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=February 17, 2022 |website=U.S. Agency for Global Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Trump appointee names conservative allies to run Radio Free Europe and Cuba broadcast agency |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/radio-free-europe-marti-michael-pack/2020/12/18/1c48f86c-418f-11eb-8db8-395dedaaa036_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220002303/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/radio-free-europe-marti-michael-pack/2020/12/18/1c48f86c-418f-11eb-8db8-395dedaaa036_story.html |archive-date=December 20, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Matthew Lee |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Pro-Trump shakeups continue at VOA's parent agency |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-michael-pack-f779133aeb9ab6d3abdec63e104f1c4c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501211817/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-michael-pack-f779133aeb9ab6d3abdec63e104f1c4c |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |access-date=May 1, 2021 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Pack attempted to add contractual language that would make it impossible to fire the broadcasting board members he had installed for two years, but it was withdrawn after inquiries from media and Congress.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=December 30, 2020 |title=Trump Appointee Seeks Lasting Control Over Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/12/30/951126591/trump-appointee-seeks-lasting-control-over-radio-free-europe-radio-free-asia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115075446/https://www.npr.org/2020/12/30/951126591/trump-appointee-seeks-lasting-control-over-radio-free-europe-radio-free-asia |archive-date=January 15, 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021 |publisher=National Public Radio}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary Pompeo Delivers Remarks at the Voice of America (50828046222).jpg|thumb|left|240px|Then-Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] speaks at VOA headquarters in January 2021.]]
On January 11, 2021, VOA interim director Reilly ordered veteran reporter [[Patsy Widakuswara]] off the White House beat. Secretary of State [[Mike Pompeo]] gave a speech critical of VOA and conducted an interview with VOA Director Robert Reilly about the dangers of censorship, then did not take permit press questions to Widakuswara followed Pompeo out, trying to ask questions.<ref name="Gaouette 2021">{{Cite news |last1=Gaouette |first1=Nicole |last2=Hansler |first2=Jennifer |last3=Atwood |first3=Kylie |date=January 13, 2021 |title=Voice of America reassigns White House reporter who tried to ask Mike Pompeo a question |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/12/media/voa-reassigns-reporter/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023050054/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/12/media/voa-reassigns-reporter/index.html |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |access-date=23 October 2021 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=January 12, 2021 |title=Voice Of America White House Reporter Reassigned After Questioning Pompeo |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/955976976/voice-of-america-white-house-reporter-reassigned-after-questioning-pompeo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019173808/https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/955976976/voice-of-america-white-house-reporter-reassigned-after-questioning-pompeo |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |access-date=23 October 2021 |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Oktavianti |first=Tri Indah |date=January 16, 2021 |title=Patsy Widakuswara: Jakarta native asking Trump administration tough questions |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2021/01/16/patsy-widakuswara-jakarta-native-asking-trump-administration-tough-questions.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023051850/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2021/01/16/patsy-widakuswara-jakarta-native-asking-trump-administration-tough-questions.html |archive-date=October 23, 2021 |access-date=23 October 2021 |work=[[The Jakarta Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=January 12, 2021 |title=Voice of America reassigns White House reporter after she sought to question Mike Pompeo |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/voice-of-america-reassigns-white-house-reporter-after-she-sought-to-question-mike-pompeo/ar-BB1cFBq5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112064458/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/voice-of-america-reassigns-white-house-reporter-after-she-sought-to-question-mike-pompeo/ar-BB1cFBq5 |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 12, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |publisher=MSN News}}</ref> In response, dozens of VOA journalists, including Widakuswara, wrote and circulated a petition calling on Reilly and public affairs specialist Elizabeth Robbins to resign.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Voice of America journalists demand resignation of news agency's top leadership |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/voice-of-america-journalists-demand-resignation-of-news-agencys-top-leadership/ar-BB1cLd9b |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114194616/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/voice-of-america-journalists-demand-resignation-of-news-agencys-top-leadership/ar-BB1cLd9b |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=January 14, 2021 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> In a statement, [[United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs|U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee]] Chairman [[Gregory Meeks]] and ranking member [[Michael McCaul]] supported her reinstatement.<ref name="Gaouette 2021" />

As of 2024, the audience was larger than the next-largest international broadcaster, the [[BBC World Service]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=March 19, 2025 |title=Donald Trump shoots his own global mouthpiece |url=https://www.economist.com/international/2025/03/19/donald-trump-shoots-his-own-global-mouthpiece |access-date=2025-05-08 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

On January 19, the last full day of the Trump presidency, Pack named a slate of five directors to head each of the three USAGM boards for RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks: conservative radio talk show host Blanquita Cullum, [[Liberty Counsel]] officer Johnathan Alexander, former White House staffer Amanda Milius, conservative writer Roger Simon, and [[Center for the National Interest]] Fellow Christian Whiton.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USAGM CEO Michael Pack names Board of Directors |url=https://www.usagm.gov/2021/01/19/usagm-ceo-michael-pack-names-board-of-directors/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119224436/https://www.usagm.gov/2021/01/19/usagm-ceo-michael-pack-names-board-of-directors/ |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=usagm.com |publisher=US Agency for Global Media}}</ref> The following day, Pack resigned at the request of the Biden administration.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Matthew |date=January 20, 2021 |title=Trump global broadcasting chief quits amid VOA staff revolt |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-media-michael-pack-4c3796bf47085218b94ac7a080634bf1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121033456/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-media-michael-pack-4c3796bf47085218b94ac7a080634bf1 |archive-date=January 21, 2021 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> On January 21, Shapiro resigned from the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Biden named veteran VOA journalist [[Kelu Chao]] to replace Pack. Chao in turn dismissed Riley and Robbins from VOA, naming Yolanda Lopez, another VOA veteran, as acting director; Lopez had also been reassigned in the wake of the Pompeo interview.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farhi |first=Paul |date=January 21, 2021 |title=At Voice of America, a sweeping ouster of Trump officials on Biden's first full day |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/at-voice-of-america-a-sweeping-ouster-of-trump-officials-on-bidens-first-full-day/2021/01/21/4827f3cc-5c2c-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122010722/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/media/at-voice-of-america-a-sweeping-ouster-of-trump-officials-on-bidens-first-full-day/2021/01/21/4827f3cc-5c2c-11eb-8bcf-3877871c819d_story.html |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On January 22, the Biden administration fired [[Victoria Coates]] and her deputy Robert Greenway from the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, naming Kelley Sullivan as acting head.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=Daniel |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Biden administration ousts Victoria Coates, who was falsely accused of being 'Anonymous' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/22/biden-victoria-coates-anonymous-461532 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123015315/https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/22/biden-victoria-coates-anonymous-461532 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |work=Politico}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Matthey |date=January 23, 2021 |title=More heads roll at US-funded international broadcasters |url=https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-cuba-media-middle-east-052e16ac28ac264e3ed9b17eb6bf5031 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124012812/https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-cuba-media-middle-east-052e16ac28ac264e3ed9b17eb6bf5031 |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |access-date=January 24, 2021 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>