US judge orders reinstatement of Voice of America staff and services
By Sabeeh Zanair :
A US federal judge has ordered the US Agency for Global Media to reinstate more than 1,000 staff at Voice of America and resume its operations by 23 March.
In a ruling issued on Tuesday, US District Judge Royce C. Lamberth found that efforts to shut down large parts of VOA and its affiliated networks breached federal law and the agency’s legal mandate.
The decision requires the agency to restore broadcasting services and recall employees who had been dismissed or placed on leave, effectively reversing earlier cuts.
The dispute centres on restructuring measures introduced in 2025 under Kari Lake, who held senior leadership roles at USAGM during the period. Lake, a former television news anchor and prominent supporter of Donald Trump, served as senior adviser, later deputy chief executive, and briefly as acting chief executive of the agency.
Although she was not confirmed by the US Senate for the top role, the court heard that she exercised broad authority. During her tenure, the agency implemented widespread staff reductions and scaled back VOA’s global broadcasts.
Judge Lamberth ruled that the agency failed to provide a lawful justification for dismantling the broadcaster, declaring the actions taken under Lake’s leadership unlawful.
VOA Director Michael Abramowitz welcomed the decision, saying the organisation was ready to resume operations. “Voice of America has never been more needed,” he said, praising staff for their resilience during the disruption.
The cuts had a global impact, including in South Asia, where around 100 Pakistani journalists working for VOA’s Urdu and Pashto services lost their jobs following closures and reductions.
Founded during World War II, VOA broadcasts in dozens of languages and is regarded as a key component of US public diplomacy, with a mandate to provide accurate and balanced news worldwide.
The administration is expected to appeal the ruling, but the court order currently requires USAGM to restore services and reinstate staff by the stated deadline.
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