A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore funding and jobs for Voice of America and other U.S.-backed international news outlets, ruling that attempts to shut down operations violated federal law.
Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia mandated the administration take steps to return employees and contractors to their prior positions at Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
The ruling comes after the administration placed over 1,300 VOA employees, including around 1,000 journalists, on leave following an executive order targeting the outlets' parent agency. The White House had labeled the broadcaster "anti-Trump" and "radical".
Administration officials argued the actions were necessary to make government operations more efficient, citing claims of bias and suggesting outlets like VOA were "the voice of radical America". Appointee Kari Lake, an ally who supported challenges to the 2020 election results, called the agency she advised "unsalvageable".
Judge Lamberth found the administration acted "without regard to the harm inflicted" on staff and audiences. His decision highlighted that the efforts likely violated the International Broadcasting Act and intruded upon Congress' power to appropriate funds for the mandated broadcasters.
Voice of America was established during World War II to counter foreign propaganda and operates under a legislative mandate from Congress to provide accurate and comprehensive news globally. The judge noted the agency had stopped reporting for the first time in its 80-year history due to the shutdown.
The ruling follows other legal challenges, including a temporary block by a different judge against the executive order seeking to eliminate the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Employees and advocacy groups filed multiple lawsuits challenging the administration's authority.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers responded to the ruling, stating that a "radical district judge is once again attempting to interfere with the Trump Administration's efforts to make the government more efficient."
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA White House bureau chief and a lead plaintiff, commented on the outcome. "My colleagues and I are grateful for this ruling. But we know that this is just a small step forward, as the government is likely to appeal," she said. "We are committed to continuing to fight against what we believe is the administration's unlawful silencing of VOA until we can return to our congressional mandate: to tell America's stories with factual, balanced, and comprehensive, reporting."
