Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has declared the decision to curtail the operations of the "Voice of America" (VOA) radio station illegal.
Operative Information Center-OMM, citing foreign media, reports that according to the court's ruling, more than 1,000 employees who have been on paid leave for approximately one year must be immediately reinstated to their positions.
Judge Lamberth instructed the leadership of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent organization of "Voice of America," to fully restore operations by March 23. The ruling noted that the near-total shutdown of the agency, which also manages media outlets such as "Radio Free Asia," constitutes a gross violation of federal administrative law.
Mass layoffs at the agency began in March 2025 as part of the "DOGE" initiative under the administration of US President Donald Trump. As a result of this process, approximately 85% of the staff were sent on indefinite leave. Broadcasts in many foreign languages, including the Persian service, were suspended, and the agency's staff count was reduced to just 68 people.
The court decision sharply criticized the actions of Kari Lake, who oversaw the suspension of the agency's activities, emphasizing that she acted in "bad faith." The plaintiffs, representing the journalists, called the decision a "historic victory" and expressed their readiness to restore the organization's global reputation and audience trust. Currently, neither USAGM nor the U.S. Department of Justice has issued an official comment regarding the court's decision.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media is an independent federal agency that oversees public service broadcasting aimed at international audiences. Historically, VOA has served as a primary source of news and information for millions of people worldwide, operating under a charter designed to ensure accuracy, balance, and independence in its reporting. The recent legal challenges highlight the ongoing debate regarding the funding and administrative oversight of state-funded international media organizations in the United States.
