WASHINGTON — A federal judge is closely monitoring the Trump administration to ensure compliance with his ruling that prevents the dismantling of Voice of America (VOA), an 83-year-old international news service.
During a recent court hearing, Judge Royce Lamberth questioned the administration’s actions after learning that layoff notices were issued to over 600 employees at VOA and its overseeing federal agency. The notification did not reach him promptly.
Brenda Gonzalez Horowitz, the lawyer for the Justice Department, assured the judge that the agency is following the April 22 order responsibly and is committed to keeping him fully informed. Despite her assurances, the judge remained skeptical.
On behalf of the plaintiffs, attorney William Schultz argued that the administration has violated Lamberth’s order by not reinstating VOA programming as per Congressional mandate, which allocated $262 million for its operation in the 2025 fiscal year. He stressed that nearly all VOA employees have been idle and on paid leave for over three months.
“Keeping staff inactive fails to meet statutory or congressionally mandated requirements,” Schultz said.
The judge demanded a comprehensive update on VOA’s status and required the administration to submit this by Friday.
Attorneys representing plaintiffs urged the judge to compel the administration to devise a strategy ensuring VOA operates in accordance with the court’s preliminary injunction. Lamberth did not deliver an immediate decision on this request.
Since March, about 1,400 personnel from VOA and the U.S. Agency for Global Media, equating to 85% of its workforce, have been dismissed, according to Kari Lake, a senior advisor in Trump’s administration. Lake described this move as a necessary step to overhaul what she termed a “bloated, unaccountable bureaucracy.”
“It’s high time to stop taxpayer money from funding an agency riddled with ineffective practices,” she stated in a press release.
The layoffs included staff from VOA’s Persian-language service, who were briefly recalled to report on recent events in Iran following an attack by Israel.
VOA employees have predominantly been inactive since March 15, with most broadcasting activities and social media interactions halted.
Judge Lamberth questioned the rationale behind a dormant VOA, emphasizing, “What purpose does Voice of America serve if it remains silent?”
Attorney Georgina Yeomans commented on the ambiguity surrounding the administration’s intentions for VOA’s future, describing them as “incredibly elusive.”
Initially aimed at communicating stories about American democracy to Nazi Germany’s citizens, VOA has expanded its mission to disseminate news globally across multiple languages, often providing press services in regions lacking media freedom.