Federal Judge Orders Voice of America to Resume Broadcasting, Reinstate 1,000+ Employees After Trump Layoffs
Favour Bitrus
March 19, 2026
Picture Credit: Bermix Studio
A United States federal judge has ordered the Voice of America to resume its international broadcasting operations and reinstate more than 1,000 employees, blocking the Trump administration’s effort to carry out sweeping layoffs at the government-funded international broadcaster.
In a ruling issued Tuesday, US District Judge Royce Lamberth directed that affected staff return to work by March 23, and that VOA resume its international broadcasting operations. The judge said attempts to shut down activities at the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, were unlawful. The decision reinforces an earlier temporary restraining order he granted in September 2025 to halt the dismissals.
The layoffs were announced in August by Kari Lake, who had been appointed to lead the agency at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. The move followed a March 2025 executive order mandating significant reductions at the broadcaster.
Voice of America, established in 1942 during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, broadcasts news and programming in multiple languages to global audiences. It has traditionally been regarded as a key instrument of US public diplomacy. Although legal protections are designed to shield VOA’s editorial independence, Trump has frequently criticized the outlet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he accused it of amplifying Chinese government narratives.
The ruling represents a significant setback for the administration’s efforts to reshape federal media operations and raises questions about the legal limits of presidential authority over agencies meant to operate with editorial independence. The judge’s decision suggests the administration violated statutory protections designed to insulate Voice of America from political interference.
The case highlights tensions between Trump’s desire to exert control over government-funded media and longstanding laws meant to ensure credible international broadcasting. Voice of America reaches audiences in countries where independent media faces restrictions, and critics warned that shutting down operations would undermine American soft power and cede information space to rival nations.
