Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Attempt To Dismantle VOA And Sister Networks.

A federal court has thrown a wrench into efforts initiated by the Trump administration to wind down Voice of America and its affiliated networks, with a judge ruling that the shutdown was likely unlawful.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth issued a sweeping injunction Tuesday, ordering the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM)—the parent agency of VOA—to reinstate the operations of VOA and its associated broadcasters. Lamberth also mandated that the agency restore employment for workers placed on administrative leave and prohibited any staffing reductions while the legal battle plays out, The Hill reports.

The ruling marks a significant blow to the administration’s executive order aimed at shuttering the government-backed international broadcasters, including Radio Free Asia, the Middle East Broadcasting Network, and others. While the court's order did not extend to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) or the Open Technology Fund—both involved in separate litigation—it signals judicial resistance to sweeping moves to dismantle public service media without due process.

“In short, the defendants had no method or approach towards shutting down USAGM that this Court can discern,” wrote Lamberth, a Reagan appointee. He described the administration’s actions as “arbitrary and capricious,” criticizing the abrupt defunding and silencing of news operations that serve international audiences.

The ruling follows a temporary restraining order issued by Judge James Paul Oetken against USAGM in late March.

The lawsuit was brought by VOA journalists, employee unions, and Reporters Without Borders, who argued the agency’s dismantling violated legal mandates that require USAGM outlets to remain “consistently reliable and authoritative” sources of news.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs pointed to coverage critical of Trump, on issues ranging from Hamas to transgender rights, as triggering the administration’s clampdown. Trump had appointed former Arizona news anchor and gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake to lead the agency during the transition, who cited “waste, fraud, and abuse” as justification for the cuts.

The Justice Department maintained that any harm could be addressed via monetary damages rather than an injunction. But the judge rejected that argument, stating the shutdown posed an existential threat to USAGM’s mission and global audience.

“The defendants have silenced VOA, canceled funds to affiliate networks, and shut down all transmitters at foreign service stations abroad,” Lamberth wrote. He concluded the actions caused “irreparable harm” not only to employees and journalists, but also to the millions who rely on U.S. international broadcasting.