Voice of America Ends Contracts with Major News Services

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Voice of America (VOA) has announced its decision to terminate contracts with major wire services, including The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse, effective immediately. This decision was communicated to VOA staff on a recent Friday, with an emphasis on discontinuing the use of material from these news organizations.

Kari Lake, the VOA director appointed by President Donald Trump, indicated that this shift aims to save an estimated $53 million. “We should not be paying outside news organizations to tell us what the news is,” Lake stated, highlighting a desire for VOA to leverage its nearly billion-dollar budget to produce its own news content. Mediums such as audio, video, and text reports from wire services are often used to supplement internal reporting, especially in locations lacking VOA journalists.

In a recent social media post, Lake confirmed the conclusion of what she described as “expensive and unnecessary contracts.” Her strategy appears to focus on restructuring how VOA operates in an environment where she asserts that transparency is necessary. “If that’s not possible, the American taxpayer should demand to know why,” Lake added. This overhaul comes as the agency seeks to redefine its mission under the current administration.

During an internal meeting, staff members were instructed to cease using any due materials from wire services, a directive that has created concern among journalists. Many organizations depend on external news services for stories and reports from areas where they do not have correspondents on the ground. However, both The Associated Press and Reuters declined to comment on the development.

This decision to cut ties arrives amid rising tensions between government officials and the press—a relationship already strained by recent legal disputes and allegations of unfair press treatment. Citing this atmosphere, the Associated Press has filed lawsuits after its reporters were removed from White House pools, and there have been additional concerns about restricted access for journalists in various government spaces.

Further discussing her plans, Lake mentioned being in a “fact-finding mode,” suggesting that major changes could be coming based on what she uncovers regarding the agency’s operations. As these developments unfold, it remains to be seen how they will impact VOA’s ability to fulfill its mission of broadcasting news to international audiences.

David Bauder contributed to this report, writing about media relations and policies. Bauder is the Associated Press national media writer, based in New York.