US judge blocks Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America

A federal judge has ordered the Donald Trump administration to reinstate operations at Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, halting efforts to shut down these government-funded international broadcasters.​

US District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that the administration’s actions likely violated both statutory mandates and the US Constitution. The judge criticized the abrupt suspension of broadcasts and the placement of over 1,000 employees and 600 contractors on leave, noting that such measures deprived millions worldwide of reliable news sources, particularly in regions lacking press freedom.

The administration had cited concerns over bias and dysfunction within the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees these broadcasters. However, Judge Lamberth emphasized that Congress had consistently funded these services to promote American values such as free speech and press freedom globally, and that the executive branch could not unilaterally defund or terminate them.

The ruling mandates the immediate reinstatement of affected employees and contractors and the resumption of radio, television, and online news broadcasts.