In a recent development from Washington, a federal judge has made a significant ruling to prevent the dismantling of Voice of America (VOA), the longstanding international news service established by Congress 83 years ago. This decision by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth comes in response to the Trump administrationโs efforts to significantly disrupt VOAโs operations, marking the first such interruption since its establishment during World War II.
The legal team representing employees and contractors of VOA had petitioned for the restoration of the service to its previous broadcasting capacity, as it was targeted by President Donald Trumpโs initiative to cut its funding. Judge Lamberth largely ruled in their favor, insisting that the operational capabilities of VOA, along with those of Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks (both managed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media), be reinstated while ongoing lawsuits are resolved.
However, Judge Lamberth denied similar requests concerning two other networks, namely Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund. According to a recent court document, the plaintiffs revealed that nearly all 1,300 VOA employees were placed on administrative leave, and around 500 contractors were informed of the impending termination of their contracts.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media, which manages these broadcasting services, also oversees other important outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Afghanistan. For this fiscal year, Congress has allocated approximately $860 million to the Agency.
VOA experienced a suspension of its services subsequent to an executive order issued by Trump on March 14, which resulted in budget cuts for the Agency and various unrelated federal entities, coupled with the cessation of contracts, including those with news agencies like The Associated Press.
Voice of America has played a crucial role since its World War II inception, primarily channeling news into regions under authoritarian control and lacking a free press. It originated as a mechanism against Nazi propaganda and became a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to limit communist influence during the Cold War.
Both Trump and some Republican affiliates have critiqued VOA for alleged biases and insufficient emphasis on โpro-Americanโ values. However, the plaintiffs maintained that VOAโs core mission is to broadcast news โtruthfully, impartially, and objectively,โ which is crucial for global audiences deprived of a free press.
The governmentโs defense asserted that the plaintiffโs arguments lacked proof of irreversible damage, framing the situation as a โtemporary pauseโ pending adjustments to comply with presidential directives. The leadership of the Agency for Global Media also features Kari Lake, a former news anchor and political candidate as a special adviser.
Judge Lamberth emphasized that the U.S. Agency for Global Media had yet to formalize its current fiscal year grant agreement with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and earlier, the Open Technology Fund had withdrawn its request for a temporary restraining order.
In contrast, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks have active grant agreements funded by Congressional allocations, aligning them with VOAโs Congressional funding. The judge critiqued the funding reductions as a โhasty, indiscriminate approach,โ especially given they coincided with the Presidentโs signing of Congressional appropriations designed to finance VOA and related networks through September this year.
Highlighting the absence of detailed reasoning from the defendants, Judge Lamberth noted a complete lack of any analytical approach. The labor union representing the U.S. Agency for Global Media employees regarded this judicial decision as a crucial endorsement of independent journalismโs role in supporting democracy and countering misinformation.
โThese networks represent vital tools of American soft power โ serving as trusted sources of truth where itโs often lacking,โ stated Tom Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, in a recent press release. He emphasized that the courtโs ruling in favor of maintaining editorial independence reinforces the credibility of USAGM journalists and the critical global mission they uphold.