A U.S. federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down Voice of America (VOA) and dismiss 1,300 employees. This decision follows the abrupt placement of VOA staff on leave earlier this month.
Judge’s Ruling
District Judge J. Paul Oetken ruled that President Donald Trump and his administration cannot unilaterally terminate VOA and its related programs, as these services are authorized and funded by Congress. He emphasized that rescinding funds for these programs requires congressional approval. While the judge did not mandate the resumption of broadcasts, he ordered that employees should not be fired until the court determines whether the shutdown was “arbitrary and capricious” in violation of federal law.
Reactions to the Decision
Andrew Celli, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, hailed the ruling as “a decisive victory for press freedom and the First Amendment, and a sharp rebuke to an administration that has shown utter disregard for the principles that define our democracy.”
Background on VOA and Legal Actions
VOA, established during World War II to combat Nazi propaganda, has evolved into an international broadcaster operating in over 40 languages. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, had planned to terminate 623 VOA employees, a move that would have significantly hindered its broadcasting capabilities.
In response, VOA journalists and their unions sued USAGM, its acting director Victor Morales, and special adviser Kari Lake, arguing that the shutdown violated their First Amendment rights to free speech. This lawsuit is one of four pending challenges to the administration’s attempt to close government-funded media programs, with others filed by Radio Free Europe and the Open Technology Fund.
USAGM’s Position
USAGM contends that it has not violated laws governing VOA’s operations. The agency stated in court filings that it reduced operations to a “statutory minimum” by restoring broadcasts in Cuba and reinstating 33 employees at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
The court’s intervention underscores the ongoing tension between the administration’s efforts to restructure government-funded media and the legal protections afforded to these organizations and their employees. The future of VOA remains uncertain as legal proceedings continue.
