Federal Judge Orders Reinstatement of Voice of America Staff

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge has ordered the US government to bring back more than 1,000 sidelined employees and restart Voice of America's international broadcasts, ruling that the near-shutdown of the US-funded outlet violated federal administrative law. The judge criticized the government's "flagrant and nearly year-long refusal" to follow the law and said USAGM CEO Kari Lake "thumbed her nose" at statutory safeguards.

Why it matters

Voice of America has transmitted news around the world since World War II, often to countries with no free press. The judge's ruling is a rebuke of the Trump administration's efforts to radically shrink and dismantle the agency, which is seen as a critical tool for projecting American influence and values globally.

The details

Starting early last year, USAGM had put hundreds of journalists on leave and moved to cut about 85% of staff, leaving only a few language services on air. District Judge Royce Lamberth said USAGM CEO Kari Lake's push to effectively dismantle VOA and its parent agency, which she leads, flouted congressional requirements and was carried out while she was improperly installed in an acting role without Senate confirmation.

• On Tuesday, the federal judge issued the order to reinstate the VOA staff.
• Lake gave up the USAGM CEO title in November.

What’s next

The judge ordered the government to bring back the sidelined VOA employees by March 23. Until Sarah B. Rogers is confirmed as the new USAGM leader, Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas is in charge of the agency.