Federal Judge Orders Restoration of Voice of America

Ruling says Trump administration lacked legal basis to effectively shut down the government-run broadcaster.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:19pm

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A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore the operations of the government-run Voice of America (VOA) broadcaster, which was effectively shut down a year ago. U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth, a Republican appointee, ruled that the administration's actions exceeded its authority and lacked a "principled basis" under the law.

Why it matters

The Voice of America has long served as an important source of independent journalism and news for countries around the world where press freedoms are restricted. The judge's ruling is seen as a rebuke of the Trump administration's efforts to exert control over government-funded media outlets.

The details

Judge Lamberth ordered the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, to submit a plan within one week to put the broadcaster back on the air. This comes after the administration placed over 1,000 of VOA's 1,147 employees on administrative leave following an executive order from President Trump to shut down the agency.

  • In March 2026, Judge Lamberth temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to eliminate over 500 jobs at the U.S. Agency for Global Media.
  • On March 17, 2026, Judge Lamberth ruled that the administration's actions to effectively shut down VOA exceeded its legal authority.

The players

Royce C. Lamberth

A federal judge appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1987 who ruled that the Trump administration lacked legal justification to shut down Voice of America.

Kari Lake

The Trump administration's choice to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, whose actions in placing over 1,000 VOA employees on leave were found to exceed her legal authority.

Sarah Rogers

The undersecretary of state for public diplomacy who has been nominated by Trump to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, unlike Kari Lake her nomination requires Senate confirmation.

Patsy Widakuswara

The Voice of America's White House bureau chief and a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the administration's actions, who expressed gratitude for the judge's ruling.

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What they’re saying

“We hope the American people will continue to support our mission to produce journalism, not propaganda.”

— Patsy Widakuswara, Voice of America White House Bureau Chief

What’s next

The U.S. Agency for Global Media has been ordered to submit a plan within one week to restore Voice of America's operations, including returning hundreds of employees who were placed on administrative leave.

The takeaway

The judge's ruling is seen as a significant rebuke of the Trump administration's efforts to exert control over government-funded media outlets like the Voice of America. It underscores the importance of preserving the independence and global reach of VOA as a source of factual, unbiased journalism.