Federal Judge Rules Trump Administration's Actions to Dismantle Voice of America Were Illegal

Ruling affirms that Kari Lake, Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, lacked authority to make sweeping changes to the news outlet.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration's actions to largely dismantle the Voice of America over the past year were illegal. U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth said that Kari Lake, President Donald Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, did not have the legal authority to terminate contracts and lay off most of VOA's employees.

Why it matters

Voice of America is seen as an example of the U.S. government's 'soft power', providing unbiased news coverage to countries where information is tightly controlled. The Trump administration had sought to reshape VOA to promote the administration's views, but the judge's ruling affirms that these actions were unlawful.

The details

Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake, who has not received Senate confirmation for her role, did not have the authority to take the actions she did to dismantle VOA. The decision's full impact on VOA's operations is still unclear, but the journalists who filed the lawsuit said they feel 'vindicated' and are working to determine what it means for their colleagues whose careers have been in limbo.

  • The ruling was issued on Saturday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Kari Lake

President Donald Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, who the judge ruled did not have legal authority to take actions to dismantle Voice of America.

Royce C. Lamberth

The U.S. District Court Judge who ruled that Lake's actions to dismantle Voice of America were illegal.

Patsy Widakuswara

Voice of America's White House bureau chief, who was among the employees laid off by Lake and has been fighting the actions.

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What they’re saying

“We feel vindicated and deeply grateful. This ruling against Kari Lake is a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love.”

— Patsy Widakuswara, Kate Neeper, and Jessica Jerreat, Voice of America journalists

“The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government. An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM. Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different.”

— Kari Lake (X)

What’s next

The full impact of the judge's ruling on Voice of America's operations remains unclear, and Kari Lake has said she plans to appeal the decision.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's efforts to reshape government agencies and the legal constraints on such actions. The ruling affirms the importance of an independent and unbiased Voice of America as a tool of American 'soft power' globally.