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In a major rebuke to the Trump administration, a federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Network staff, declaring the government’s recent moves to shutter the outlets unlawful.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted a preliminary injunction on behalf of VOA journalist Patsy Widakuswara and colleagues against Kari Lake, the acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The judge ruled that the agency must rehire all employees and contractors and resume full congressional funding to the organizations.
“The plaintiffs must be returned to their roles so they can provide news which is consistently reliable and authoritative, accurate, objective and comprehensive,” Judge Lamberth wrote.
The ruling comes after the Trump administration placed the journalists on administrative leave last month, following a sweeping executive order signed by President Trump in March, which aimed to cut funding and centralize control over what are supposed to be independent government-funded media outlets.
Legal Win for Press Freedom
The judge’s injunction temporarily halts what critics have described as a political power grab targeting U.S.-funded global news organizations. The USAGM was originally designed to be an independent public service agency, meant to shield broadcasters from political influence.
While Radio Free Europe was not covered by this decision due to a separate lawsuit, the judge’s move was still a significant legal victory for press freedom, according to media law experts.
Kari Lake and USAGM Under Fire
Kari Lake, a Trump ally installed as acting CEO of the USAGM earlier this year, has been accused of leading an effort to bring the networks under tighter political control. Staff were abruptly furloughed, programming ceased in multiple regions, and contracts were suspended — actions critics said violated the agency’s founding principles.
The plaintiffs argued that the administration’s actions breached federal statutes and the First Amendment, and the judge appeared to agree — at least enough to block the actions while the full case is heard.
Broader Implications
The case underscores growing tension between Trump’s administration and independent media, as well as the administration’s broader push to reshape the federal government’s role in journalism and global messaging.
The Voice of America, founded in 1942, has been a mainstay of U.S. public diplomacy and international broadcasting, with a mission to promote accurate and uncensored news around the world. The agency’s editorial independence is considered crucial, particularly in regions with restricted press freedoms.
This preliminary injunction restores the flow of taxpayer-funded news content — for now — but the legal and political battle over the future of U.S. global media is far from over.
