President Donald Trump has nominated a senior State Department official to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, the agency that funds and oversees outlets such as Voice of America and broadcasts aimed at audiences in repressive countries.
The administration named Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers as its choice to take on the additional role as chief executive officer of USAGM. The State Department said that if Rogers is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would be positioned to "significantly strengthen coordination between U.S. international broadcasting and American public diplomacy in the national interest."
The State Department statement reiterated its view that "USAGM’s mission has long been closely aligned with the Department of State, and the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy has always held consultative authorities with the agency." It also noted that Rogers has led the administration’s campaign against European Internet regulations that Washington says constitute censorship.
Rogers still requires Senate confirmation before officially assuming the CEO post at USAGM.
The nomination comes after a recent court decision that rejected earlier changes made by the administration to the agency’s staffing and operations. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted summary judgment in favor of plaintiffs - including Voice of America journalists and a federal employees union - who argued that the appointment and actions of the agency’s acting CEO violated federal law.
Plaintiffs contended that the manner in which Kari Lake had been installed and the steps she took while serving as acting CEO contravened the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Appointments Clause of the Constitution. Those legal findings led to the court invalidating the staff reductions implemented while she served in that role.
The Department of Justice said in a court filing that Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas would perform the duties of the agency’s CEO on an interim basis.
Kari Lake, who had been appointed by President Trump as a senior adviser to USAGM and who oversaw sweeping cuts to staff and operations at outlets that include Voice of America, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, responded on social media to the legal setback. In a post on X she described her actions as "right-sizing" and said they were "so effective over the last year that the Deep State has done everything they can to stop us, including launching malicious lawsuits at me and the agency."
The broadcasters overseen by USAGM operate in dozens of languages and reach audiences in countries where independent media are restricted. The agency’s outlets include radio and television services and reporting in 64 languages, and they are aimed at populations in oppressive environments.
As the nomination proceeds through the confirmation process, the agency remains under interim management as legal and administrative questions stemming from the recent litigation are resolved.