Judge Orders Voice of America Restoration, But Challenges Remain

The future of the government-funded news agency is uncertain despite court ruling.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:39am

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A federal judge has ordered the restoration of the Voice of America (VOA) news organization, which was largely shut down by the Trump administration over the past year. However, the government has filed an appeal, and it remains unclear whether the Biden administration will fully revive the agency's operations across 49 languages as it had operated prior to the cutbacks.

Why it matters

The Voice of America was established during World War II to provide news to countries without a free press. Its restoration is seen as crucial for promoting press freedom and objective journalism globally, though the Trump administration viewed it as an example of government overreach that should be scaled back.

The details

U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake, President Trump's pick to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media that includes VOA, did not have the authority to drastically reduce the news organization's staffing and operations. The judge ordered hundreds of VOA employees who had been on paid leave to return to work. However, the government has filed an appeal, and it's unclear how many of those employees may have found other jobs in the past year. The judge also said he could not reinstate hundreds of independent contractors who were terminated.

  • On March 7, 2026, Judge Lamberth ruled that VOA's operations must be restored.
  • On March 10, 2026, the government filed a notice to appeal the judge's order.

The players

Kari Lake

President Trump's choice to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which includes the Voice of America.

Royce C. Lamberth

The U.S. District Court judge who ordered the restoration of the Voice of America.

Patsy Widakuswara

The Voice of America's White House bureau chief and a plaintiff in the lawsuit to bring the agency back.

David Ensor

A former Voice of America director between 2010 and 2014.

Steve Herman

A former White House bureau chief and national correspondent at VOA, now the executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi.

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What they’re saying

“It is time for all parties to come together and work to rebuild and strengthen the agency.”

— Michael Abramowitz, VOA director

“President Trump was elected to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse across the administration, including the Voice of America — and efforts to improve efficiency at USAGM have been a tremendous success. This will not be the final say on the matter.”

— Anna Kelly, White House spokeswoman

“Restoring the physical infrastructure is going to take a lot of money and some time but it can be done. What is more difficult is recovering from the trauma that our newsroom has gone through.”

— Patsy Widakuswara, VOA White House bureau chief

“I'm a bit of a pessimist. I think it's going to be very difficult.”

— Steve Herman, Former VOA White House bureau chief

“I believe in Voice of America as a news organization and as a voice of America. It was important, and it can be again.”

— David Ensor, Former VOA director

What’s next

The judge's order to restore VOA operations is being appealed by the government, and it remains to be seen whether the Biden administration will fully revive the agency's global reach and mission of objective journalism.

The takeaway

The future of the Voice of America is uncertain, as the agency faces political headwinds and challenges in rebuilding after a year of cutbacks under the Trump administration. Restoring VOA's global impact as a source of free and independent news will require significant time and resources, as well as a clear commitment from the current administration.