The parent company of One America News (OAN) agreed to provide the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) free access to news videos and stories for distribution on government-backed radio and TV networks that broadcast overseas, according to documents obtained by The Desk this week.

Earlier this month, USAGM Special Advisor Kari Lake and Charles Herring, the founder and CEO of Herring Networks, signed a non-binding contract that grants the federal agency a worldwide, royalty-free license to air OAN content on the Voice of America and Cuba-based Television Marti, among other broadcasters overseen by the agency.

The two-page document was furnished by USAGM to The Desk as part of a comprehensive request made through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) that sought e-mails and other records related to the agreement between USAGM and Herring Networks.

The deal came together nearly two months after President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order requiring USAGM and six other federal agencies to significantly reduce their operations as part of sweeping, government-imposed austerity measures. The effect of the order saw the USAGM lay off more than 1,000 employees, terminate around 600 public service contractors and reduce funding to non-profit broadcast operations like Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia.

The Voice of America has been the most-impacted by the decision, with hundreds of employees and contractors in limbo while legal challenges to the job and funding cuts work their way through the court. In the meantime, the video feeds of Voice of America have aired a loop promising that the broadcaster will relaunch with programming that “present the policies of the United States” and “serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news.”

OAN was created in the early 2010s at the urging of AT&T, then the parent company of DirecTV, who wanted an alternative to the Fox News Channel in order to have greater leverage in its distribution negotiations. Both Fox News and OAN obtain fees from cable and satellite providers for their channels, though the amount of money OAN earns from pay TV subscribers is substantially less than what Fox Corporation, the parent company of Fox News, earns for its two cable news channels.

While its audience may be smaller, OAN has found influence among Trump and his fans, and the channel has leaned into the fandom by casting itself as “one of his greatest supporters.” Its alliance with Trump appears to be the reason OAN was hand-picked by USAGM for the editorial pact, despite agencies typically opening up the process for competitive bids, though Lake tells the story a bit differently.

On May 6, shortly after the contract with Herring Networks was signed, Lake wrote on social media that the partnership came together after the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) “suggested we explore OAN as a newsfeed option.” OCB operates Television Marti and Radio Marti, the two government-backed broadcasters targeting residents in Cuba.

“At their suggestion, I reached out to OAN, and they offered to provide their newsfeed and video service free-of-charge,” Lake wrote.

It isn’t clear how those discussions came together. The USAGM did not provide any e-mail records or other correspondents to The Desk that showed discussions between Lake and anyone at OCB, even though this outlet’s FOIA request specifically asked for them. A spokesperson for the USAGM said the agency conducted a “thorough search” for records and provided the documents it could find.

A two-page memorandum of understanding was provided, and showed that Lake and Herring executed a non-binding contract that allows USAGM and its child organizations, including VOA and OCB, to reuse OAN video content on radio, TV and online, in all countries except the United States.

The agreement does not require USAGM or any other government agency to pay Herring for the privilege, and the deal lasts for at least two years, with an option to renew for another two years in 2027.

Herring is not allowed to advertise its agreement in a way that suggests a government endorsement, the contract says. But nothing precludes Lake or anyone else at USAGM from making a similar endorsement — and she did just that on social media earlier this month.

“OAN is one of the few family-owned American media networks left in the United States,” Lake wrote. “We are grateful for their generosity.”

In her post, Lake acknowledged that she does not “have editorial control over VOA and OCB programming,” and legal experts question whether she has any authority to execute on agreements that fundamentally shape the way USAGM conducts its business.

Earlier this year, Trump nominated Lake to serve as the Director General of VOA, a move that requires the approval of a bipartisan board of directors. While the nomination was pending, USAGM hired Lake to the role of special advisor.

In a statement at the time of her hiring, the acting CEO of USAGM Roman Napoli said Lake would bring “a wealth of experience in broadcast journalism” to the agency — she was a former local TV news anchor for a Fox-owned station before her political career began — and that she would assist in the implementation of “policies and strategies needed to streamline the agency, its networks and its grantees.”

Legally, the position allows Lake to offer guidance, but not have any direct authority over USAGM or its organizations. Nonetheless, Lake has effectuated a number of consequential moves, from directing layoffs at VOA and other outlets to eliminating newswire contracts with the Associated Press and Reuters. Lake was also the only person at USAGM to sign the two-page, non-binding contract between USAGM and Herring Networks.

In her social media post earlier this month, Lake seemed to acknowledge the limitations of her abilities by affirming she couldn’t directly control the editorial output of VOA or OCB. And, to date, none of the broadcasters overseen by USAGM have aired news content produced or distributed by OAN.

But that could soon change: A source familiar with the matter said the video monitors within VOA’s Washington-based newsroom are no longer tuned to its satellite channel. Instead, the monitors are showing OAN around the clock.