Federal Judge Blocks Shutdown Of Voice of America And Sister Stations.

A federal judge just hit pause on the Trump administration’s controversial push to gut Voice of America and its sister stations. In a ruling Friday, Judge James Paul Oetken slammed the move as “arbitrary and capricious,” blocking efforts to lay off more than 1,200 employees and halt international broadcasting.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees Voice of America (VOA), had begun sidelining staff earlier this month following an executive order by President Trump that slashed the agency’s funding. But Oetken’s temporary restraining order stops USAGM from terminating or furloughing employees, closing offices, or forcing foreign-based staff to come home.

It also protects funding for VOA’s sister networks, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Afghanistan. Radio Free Europe’s funding has already been reinstated following a separate court order in D.C.

“This is a decisive victory for press freedom,” said Andrew G. Celli Jr., attorney for the plaintiffs, which include VOA journalists, unions, and Reporters Without Borders. “It sends a clear message that the First Amendment doesn’t take a backseat to politics.”

During the Manhattan hearing, Judge Oetken criticized USAGM leadership — including Trump adviser Kari Lake — for abruptly pulling the plug on operations “with no consideration of the effects.” Plaintiffs argued that dismantling VOA violates prior court rulings shielding its journalists from political interference.

VOA went dark shortly after Trump’s March 14 order slashing funding to USAGM and six other agencies. The order also led to the cancellation of VOA’s contracts with major news partners like the Associated Press. The White House branded VOA as “The Voice of Radical America,” accusing it of spreading “anti-American” content — a charge reporters strongly deny.

Though some services, like Radio Martí in Cuba, are slowly returning to air, the future of USAGM remains uncertain. Three more lawsuits are pending in D.C. courts. In the meantime, VOA’s decades-long mission to broadcast uncensored news into authoritarian countries hangs in limbo — but for now, it’s still on the air.