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Judge orders Trump administration to restore Voice of America and bring back hundreds of staff

Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled the near-shutdown of Voice of America was unlawful and ordered reinstatement of 1,042 employees and resumption of international broadcasts.

  • On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ordered the U.S. Agency for Global Media to reverse the decision that put more than 1,000 Voice of America employees on leave and restore VOA operations.
  • Lamberth ruled that Lake's appointment violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Appointments Clause, and that invoking Trump's March 14, 2025 executive order did not justify her actions, which he called 'arbitrary and capricious.'
  • The judge highlighted specific cuts and a voided memo, noting the administration shelved 1,042 of VOA's 1,147 employees and vacated a March 2025 memo that cut the agency to 68 positions.
  • The judge ordered full‑time VOA employees back by March 23, and Voice of America Director Michael Abramowitz said, 'We are thrilled with Judge Lamberth's ruling and look forward to getting back to work.'
  • Potential disputes loom over the VOA's editorial firewall as Kari Lake plans to appeal and Sarah B. Rogers was nominated to lead USAGM, leaving unresolved staffing issues.
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Lean Left

Once again, the judiciary limits the US administration's actions. A judge declared the cuts to the most important US foreign broadcaster invalid, but the Trump camp has long been taking action against other media.

·Germany
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A good news for global information: the American radio station Voice of America will resume service. It had been closed almost overnight and almost all of its staff dismissed or suspended, in the name of drastic cuts in public spending. American justice ruled the procedure illegal.

·Paris, France
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Center

A judge instructed the U.S. government to resume broadcasting of the US foreign broadcaster Voice of America (VOA). Federal judge Royce Lamberth instructed the USGM agency responsible for the foreign broadcaster to present a plan for the resumption of international broadcasts by next week. Moreover, the government in Washington is supposed to let more than 1000 employees of the station return to work.Ten days ago Lamberth had ruled that the appo…

·Germany
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Politico broke the news in on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
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