Trending Now - Judge Mandates Restoration of Voice of America Operations
WHO:
U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth
Kari Lake, appointed by Trump to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media
Michael Abramowitz, VOA director
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA's White House bureau chief and plaintiff in the lawsuit
Steve Herman, former White House bureau chief at VOA
Anna Kelly, White House spokeswoman
Christopher Wallace, new deputy director at VOA
Sarah Rogers, nominated to run the U.S. Agency for Global Media
Kate Neeper, VOA's director of strategy and performance evaluation
WHAT:
A federal judge ordered the restoration of Voice of America operations.
Hundreds of VOA employees who have been on paid leave for the past year are to be put back to work.
The Voice of America was operating in 49 different languages and was heard by an estimated 362 million people before the Trump administration's actions.
Congress set aside $200 million for Voice of America's operation in February 2026, representing a 25% cut from previous appropriations.
Lamberth stated that Kari Lake had “repeatedly thumbed her nose” at laws mandating VOA's operation.
WHERE:
New York, where the federal court ruling was made.
Voice of America operates in Iran, Afghanistan, China, North Korea, and countries with a large population of Kurds.
WHEN:
The ruling by Judge Lamberth was made on March 7th, 2026.
The government filed notice to appeal on March 9th, 2026.
The budget bill was passed in February 2026.
WHY:
The Trump administration aimed to reduce what they considered bloated government-run news sources and sought news reporting more favorable to the administration.
HOW:
The judge's order was a legal decision to restore operations at VOA after a year of reduced staffing and operations.
The administration's efforts included bolstering friendly outlets and fighting coverage that displeased them.
(UPDATED March 21, 2026 11:03 UTC)
A federal judge in New York has ordered the restoration of Voice of America operations, allowing hundreds of employees who have been on paid leave for the past year to return to work. Judge Royce C. Lamberth criticized Kari Lake, appointed by Trump to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media, for disregarding laws that mandate VOA's operation, which previously reached an audience of 362 million people in 49 languages. This ruling comes after Congress allocated $200 million for VOA's operations in February, despite a 25% cut from previous funding levels.