A federal judge has ordered the administration of former President Donald Trump to reinstate Voice of America (VOA) employees and contractors, ruling that efforts to shut down the U.S.-funded broadcaster and its sister outlets violated federal law.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued the ruling on Tuesday, instructing the government to “take all necessary steps” to resume operations at VOA, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, all of which fall under the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The decision comes in response to a lawsuit filed by employees following sweeping cuts and suspensions ordered by the Trump administration earlier this year.
The ruling follows a controversial executive order signed by President Trump on March 14, which directed the elimination of multiple federal agencies, including USAGM, “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” The White House had accused VOA of being “radical” and “anti-Trump,” claims that sparked widespread criticism from press freedom advocates.
In the weeks that followed, USAGM placed nearly 1,300 VOA staff on administrative leave and informed 500 contractors that their contracts would be terminated by the end of March — effectively halting operations at the historic broadcaster for the first time since its founding in World War II.
Judge Lamberth strongly condemned the administration’s actions, writing that the shutdown showed a “straightforward display of arbitrary and capricious actions.” He added that the government acted “without regard to the harm inflicted on employees, contractors, journalists, and media consumers around the world.”
The court found that the administration likely breached the International Broadcasting Act and Congressional Appropriations Acts, both of which safeguard the editorial independence and funding of U.S.-funded media outlets.
“This ruling is a significant victory for press freedom,” said VOA journalist Patsy Widakuswara, one of the plaintiffs in the case. However, she cautioned that the legal battle is not over, noting that the government may appeal.
The White House and USAGM have yet to respond to the decision.
Tom Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, praised the court’s intervention. “These news outlets are trusted sources of truth in places where it is often scarce,” he said. “By upholding editorial independence, the court has protected the credibility of USAGM journalists and the global mission they serve.”
The case has reignited debate over political interference in government-funded media and the future of independent journalism in the U.S.
