President Donald Trump has nominated Sarah B. Rogers, currently the State Department’s Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, to lead the U.S Agency for Global Media after a federal judge demanded the government outline a succession plan for the parent agency of U.S.-funded media outlets.
Trump has also tasked Michael Rigas, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, to serve as the agency’s acting CEO.
The nomination came a day after Justice Department attorneys told U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth that the agency did “not have a ‘succession plan’ for the CEO of USAGM” because his ruling invalidating Kari Lake’s appointment as acting CEO meant Trump needed to nominate a permanent replacement for Senate confirmation for an acting CEO to come in. The attorneys also said no one was currently serving as acting CEO.
Lamberth on Saturday ruled in a lawsuit brought by some Voice of America staffers — Patsy Widakuswara, Jessica Jerreat and Kate Neeper — that Lake’s appointment as USAGM’s acting CEO was invalid, nullifying her actions that included mass layoffs across the agency’s U.S.-funded media ventures.
The move opened the window for the staffers of those outlets — including Voice of America, the U.S. outlet that caters to an international audience — to return to work, though Widakuswara previously told TheWrap that they needed clarity over who would be tasked to lead the agency.
In a statement on Thursday, the three plaintiffs said they were “glad to see that the government has provided the court with information regarding USAGM leadership, and eager to see their plans for the agency’s congressionally-appropriated funds.”
“Our objectives remain the same: to restore VOA’s global presence, and to ensure it continues to provide accurate, objective and comprehensive news, as required by law,” they wrote.
Rogers assumed her State Department role in October, using her role to advocate for free speech initiatives worldwide and deride European and U.K. regulations on speech. A State Department spokesperson told TheWrap Rogers would serve in both roles if she’s confirmed by the Senate.
Rigas has also served as acting administrator for the General Services Administration alongside his State Department position.
Lake wrote on X that she would remain deputy CEO of the agency, where she would work alongside Rigas to “root-out corruption at the agency and make it more accountable to American taxpayers” as they wait for Rogers to be confirmed.
“A rotund DC District Court judge wants me OUT of the agency, but despite his absurd orders and rulings, I remain in the exact same position today as I was before: Deputy CEO — where I am even more determined to finish the job,” she wrote.
