A U.S. appeals court has temporarily halted a ruling that required Voice of America (VOA) employees to return to work following their suspension earlier this year. The decision comes after the Trump administration’s U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) had placed over 1,000 employees on leave and suspended broadcasts, citing operational restructuring. The original ruling by Judge Royce Lamberth mandated that the workers be reinstated, and $15 million in funding be restored to Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. However, the appeals court determined that the judge lacked jurisdiction over the matter, effectively blocking the enforcement of the order.
The case centers around the actions taken by USAGM, which has overseen the Voice of America and other global media organizations. Following an executive directive from Trump advisor Kari Lake, USAGM placed its employees on leave and halted VOA operations, leading to the suspension of programming for the first time in the organization’s 80-year history. This has sparked legal debates about the agency’s authority and its role in the broader media landscape.
Judge Cornelia Pillard, dissenting, warned that the ruling could lead to the permanent cessation of VOA’s broadcasts and the erasure of crucial international media platforms before a full review of the case is conducted. The court’s decision to temporarily block the reinstatement order means that, for now, VOA’s programming remains suspended, with its website inactive since March 15.
Kari Lake, a vocal proponent of the USAGM’s actions, has called the appeals court’s decision a victory, reaffirming her stance that the organization was biased and dysfunctional. Despite the court’s ruling, the government has not contested the necessity to maintain the legally required programming levels, signaling the ongoing tension between political forces and the future of independent international broadcasting in the U.S.
