Federal Court Demands Voice of America Restoration Amid Trump Administration Appeal

A federal judge has mandated that Voice of America restore hundreds of employees who were placed on paid leave for the past year under Trump administration cuts. The government has filed an appeal while questions remain about whether the international news service will truly return to its former scope.

A federal judge issued a forceful ruling this week demanding the restoration of Voice of America operations after the Trump administration significantly reduced the international news service over the past year.

However, the likelihood of full implementation remains uncertain as the government has already moved to challenge the decision.

On Thursday, federal officials filed an appeal against U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth’s Tuesday directive requiring hundreds of VOA staff members on paid leave to return to their positions. Judge Lamberth determined on March 7 that Kari Lake, Trump’s appointee to lead the parent U.S. Agency for Global Media, lacked proper authorization to strip VOA down to minimal operations.

The international broadcasting service began during World War II, delivering news programming to nations without independent press traditions. Prior to Trump’s recent return to office, VOA transmitted content in 49 languages to approximately 362 million listeners worldwide.

The current administration argued that government-funded news operations, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, represented excessive government spending and sought programming that would better support the administration’s agenda. With dramatically reduced personnel, VOA now only serves Iran, Afghanistan, China, North Korea, and Kurdish-speaking regions.

In his ruling, Judge Lamberth stated that Lake had “repeatedly thumbed her nose” at legal requirements governing VOA’s operations.

Current VOA director Michael Abramowitz noted that lawmakers from both political parties recognize the importance of robust international broadcasting and have allocated sufficient funding for proper operations. “It is time for all parties to come together and work to rebuild and strengthen the agency,” he stated.

Quick resolution appears unlikely. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly declared that “President Trump was elected to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse across the administration, including the Voice of America — and efforts to improve efficiency at USAGM have been a tremendous success. This will not be the final say on the matter.”

Patsy Widakuswara, who serves as VOA’s White House bureau chief and participated in the legal challenge, explained that “restoring the physical infrastructure is going to take a lot of money and some time but it can be done. What is more difficult is recovering from the trauma that our newsroom has gone through.”

Former VOA director David Ensor, who led the organization from 2010 to 2014, questioned whether the administration seeks genuine journalism or a propaganda outlet. “We don’t know — maybe no one does at the moment — what the future holds,” he remarked.

Recent administrative actions provide insight into the direction, despite congressional mandates for VOA to maintain objectivity and balance. This week brought news that Christopher Wallace, a Newsmax executive with 15 years of Fox News Channel experience, would become VOA’s new deputy director. Abramowitz learned of his new deputy’s appointment only when it was publicly announced.

Widakuswara declined to speculate about Wallace’s appointment’s implications. “I’m not going to pass judgment before seeing his work,” she said.

While Judge Lamberth directed more than 1,000 furloughed employees to resume work, many may have secured other employment or retired during their year-long absence. The judge also acknowledged his lack of authority to reinstate hundreds of terminated independent contractors.

Steve Herman, formerly VOA’s White House bureau chief and national correspondent, now serves as executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi. Despite the court victory, he doubts the Trump administration will oversee a return to previous operations.

“I’m a bit of a pessimist,” Herman admitted. “I think it’s going to be very difficult.”

Beyond opposing VOA’s restoration, Trump typically resists acknowledging setbacks. Last week, the White House nominated Sarah Rogers, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media, potentially increasing administrative control. Senate confirmation is required for her appointment.

“Is Marco Rubio’s State Department going to allow objective journalism in 49 languages?” Herman questioned. “I don’t think so. I would want that to happen, but that’s a fairy tale.”

February’s budget legislation allocated $200 million for VOA operations. Though this represents approximately 25% less than previous funding levels, it demonstrates bipartisan congressional support, according to Kate Neeper, VOA’s director of strategy and performance evaluation. Neeper joined Widakuswara as a plaintiff in the restoration lawsuit and has assisted colleagues with various challenges during the past year, including immigration matters.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm for going back to work,” she observed. “People are eager to show up on Monday.”

Ensor recalled the significant demand for VOA content in Iran during his tenure as an example of the organization’s impact. Research indicated that 25% to 33% of Iranian households accessed VOA programming weekly, primarily through satellite television. Though authorities occasionally seized satellite equipment, Iranians typically found quick replacements.

“I believe in Voice of America as a news organization and as a voice of America,” Ensor concluded. “It was important, and it can be again.”