A judge in the US has ruled that the effective closure of the Voice of America (VOA) last year was illegal and that hundreds of its journalists should be reinstated. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has given authorities one week to put the international broadcaster back on air. The VOA was set up during World War Two to counter Nazi propaganda.
Just weeks after returning to office as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster which his officials accused of left-wing bias. Trump also ordered outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia to be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.
The president appointed Kari Lake to head the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) - the parent company overseeing and funding the VOA, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Free Asia. Lake proceeded to sack more than 85% of the agency's employees - over 1,000 staff at VOA - leaving only a few in their positions. Most have been on paid administrative leave since last year, allowed back to work as conflicts arose.
Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake did not have authority to order the suspension of the USAGM workforce as she had not been confirmed by the US Senate. In Tuesday's ruling, the federal judge described the decision to sack the journalists as arbitrary and capricious, adding that the government did not consider legislation determining what languages and regions the VOA must serve.
Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration, expressing deep gratitude for the judge's decision. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, emphasized hopes for continued public support for independent journalism.
While it's uncertain if Lake's successor, Sarah Rogers, will appeal, the ruling is a pivotal moment for press independence in the U.S. The VOA historically broadcasts TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages, playing a crucial role in informing a global audience.
Just weeks after returning to office as president, Donald Trump issued an executive order to close the broadcaster which his officials accused of left-wing bias. Trump also ordered outlets such as Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia to be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.
The president appointed Kari Lake to head the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) - the parent company overseeing and funding the VOA, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Free Asia. Lake proceeded to sack more than 85% of the agency's employees - over 1,000 staff at VOA - leaving only a few in their positions. Most have been on paid administrative leave since last year, allowed back to work as conflicts arose.
Last week, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake did not have authority to order the suspension of the USAGM workforce as she had not been confirmed by the US Senate. In Tuesday's ruling, the federal judge described the decision to sack the journalists as arbitrary and capricious, adding that the government did not consider legislation determining what languages and regions the VOA must serve.
Three VOA journalists had sued the Trump administration, expressing deep gratitude for the judge's decision. One of them, Patsy Widakuswara, emphasized hopes for continued public support for independent journalism.
While it's uncertain if Lake's successor, Sarah Rogers, will appeal, the ruling is a pivotal moment for press independence in the U.S. The VOA historically broadcasts TV, radio, and digital content in nearly 50 languages, playing a crucial role in informing a global audience.
