A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to temporarily halt efforts to shut down Voice of America, preventing the termination of 1,300 journalists and other employees at the U.S. news service.
U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken stated that the Trump administration cannot unilaterally terminate Voice of America and its related radio programs, which are approved and funded by Congress. The judge noted that rescinding funds for these programs would require congressional approval.
Oetken did not mandate that Voice of America resume broadcasts, but emphasized that employees should not be dismissed until further court proceedings can determine whether the shutdown was arbitrary and capricious, in violation of federal law.
"This is 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," said Andrew Celli, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
The U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and other government-funded media, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The agency had informed unions of its plans to terminate 623 Voice of America employees, a move that plaintiffs argued would severely hinder any attempt to resume broadcasts at the levels approved by Congress.
Founded to combat Nazi propaganda during World War II, Voice of America has evolved into an international broadcaster, operating in over 40 languages and disseminating U.S. news narratives in countries with restricted press freedoms. The U.S. Agency for Global Media employs approximately 3,500 workers, with an $886 million budget for 2024.
Voice of America journalists and their unions filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Agency for Global Media, its acting director Victor Morales, and Special Adviser Kari Lake, claiming that the shutdown infringed on workers' constitutional First Amendment rights.
This lawsuit is one of four pending challenges to the Trump administration's efforts to shut down government-funded media programs, with other challenges filed by a separate group of Voice of America employees and the grant recipient Open Technology Fund. The U.S. Agency for Global Media contended that it had not violated the governing laws of Voice of America's operations, asserting in court filings that it had reduced operations to a "statutory minimum" by restoring some broadcasts and reinstating 33 employees at the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.