Appeals Court Blocks Voice of America Staff Return, Backs Trump’s Reform

Trump’s Bold Move to Reshape Voice of America

President Trump’s administration has taken decisive steps to overhaul the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA), a government-funded broadcaster. On March 14, an executive order halted VOA’s operations, placing over 1,000 employees on leave and terminating 600 contractors. The directive aimed to address what Trump advisor Kari Lake called an ‘irretrievably broken’ agency, accusing it of bias against the president. This marked the first time in VOA’s 80-year history that it ceased news reporting, with its website untouched since March 15 and reliant radio stations abroad falling silent or playing music.

Court Battle Intensifies Over VOA Shutdown

On April 22, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the administration to reinstate VOA employees and restore $15 million in grants for Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, arguing the shutdown violated congressional mandates. However, a federal appeals court on Saturday, in a 2-1 decision, stayed Lamberth’s ruling, stating he lacked jurisdiction to mandate employee reinstatement. Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, both appointed by President Trump, emphasized executive authority in employment matters. This decision has thrown VOA’s immediate future into uncertainty, halting plans for a phased staff return announced just a day earlier.

‘BIG WIN in our legal cases at USAGM & Voice of America. Huge victory for President Trump and Article II,’ Kari Lake posted on X, celebrating the appeals court’s ruling. She argued the district court overstepped by attempting to manage the agency, reinforcing the administration’s position that VOA requires significant reform to align with national interests.

VOA’s Role and the Path Forward

VOA, established during World War II to counter propaganda, broadcasts in over 40 languages to a global audience of hundreds of millions. The administration contends it has strayed from its mission, with Lake and others labeling it ‘The Voice of Radical America.’ The appeals court left intact Lamberth’s requirement to restore VOA’s statutorily mandated programming levels, suggesting broadcasts could resume without immediate staff reinstatement. However, USAGM has not commented on next steps, leaving employees in limbo as legal battles continue.

Judge Cornelia Pillard dissented, warning the stay ‘all but guarantees that the networks will no longer exist in any meaningful form by the time this case is fully adjudicated.’ Despite this, the administration remains focused on restructuring VOA to ensure it reflects American values without partisan influence, a priority for President Trump’s broader agenda to streamline federal agencies.

Broader Implications for Public Media

The VOA shutdown is part of President Trump’s larger effort to reduce federal bureaucracy, including targeting other publicly funded media like NPR and PBS. The administration has argued that taxpayer dollars should not fund outlets perceived as misaligned with national priorities.

The ongoing legal fight underscores the tension between executive authority and judicial oversight, with President Trump’s reforms at the heart of the debate. As the case progresses, the administration’s vision for a leaner, more accountable VOA remains a focal point for supporters who see it as a necessary correction to decades of bureaucratic overreach.