Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Shut Down Voice of America/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A federal judge halts the Trump administration’s plan to dismantle Voice of America. The ruling restores VOA, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The court found the move lacked proper analysis and violated legal protocols.
Voice of America Shutdown Blocked: Quick Looks
- Judge Stops VOA Closure: U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled the Trump administration acted unlawfully.
- Restoration Ordered: VOA, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks operations must resume.
- Funding Cuts Criticized: Lamberth called the administration’s move hasty and lacking analysis.
- Employees Impacted: Over 1,300 staff were placed on leave; 500 contractors faced termination.
- Trump’s Executive Order Targeted Media: A March order slashed funds and canceled agency contracts.
- Historical Legacy at Risk: VOA has broadcast impartial news into authoritarian states since WWII.
- Legal Support for Free Press: The court emphasized the importance of independent journalism.
- Labor Union Praises Decision: The American Foreign Service Association welcomed the ruling as a defense of global press freedom.
Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Shut Down Voice of America
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — April 22, 2025 — In a decisive rebuke to the Trump administration, a federal judge has blocked efforts to dismantle Voice of America (VOA) and ordered the restoration of two other U.S.-funded news networks, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled Tuesday that the White House acted unlawfully when it halted operations at VOA — marking the first time the international broadcaster has been silenced since its founding in 1942. The decision temporarily protects VOA from Trump’s executive order, which sought to eliminate funding for the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and revoke VOA’s ability to operate.
“The administration took a hasty, indiscriminate approach,” Lamberth wrote, criticizing the lack of analysis behind the decision.
A Legacy of Trusted Journalism
Voice of America was founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda. Over eight decades, it became a global symbol of free press, particularly in authoritarian countries. It now serves as a trusted source of objective news in regions like China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, where state-controlled media dominate.
The administration’s actions came as part of a broader effort to reshape U.S. foreign policy communications, aligning media messaging with Trump’s “America First” directive. VOA and other outlets were accused of failing to promote “pro-American” values and harboring “leftist bias.”
“VOA’s mission is to report the news truthfully, impartially, and objectively,” attorneys for the plaintiffs said.
Lawsuit Filed After Funding Cuts
The legal challenge was mounted after a March 14 executive order from President Trump that froze VOA’s funding and canceled news contracts, including with the Associated Press. Attorneys for affected employees and contractors said the move left nearly all of VOA’s 1,300 employees on leave, and 500 contractors’ jobs were terminated at the end of March.
The plaintiffs argued that these actions violated Congressional intent, as lawmakers had appropriated $860 million for USAGM operations this fiscal year.
In his ruling, Lamberth also restored funding for Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, both of which had existing grant agreements. However, requests to reinstate Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund were denied, as their grant agreements were either not finalized or had been withdrawn.
Judge Lamberth’s Sharp Critique
Judge Lamberth did not mince words in his decision, writing that the administration offered “no reasoned analysis” and had violated established procedures.
“There is an absence of any analysis whatsoever,” he added, underscoring the legal deficiencies in the administration’s rationale.
The court’s ruling means VOA and its sister networks must resume operations at pre-order levels while litigation continues.
Reactions and Fallout
The American Foreign Service Association, the labor union representing many USAGM employees, hailed the decision.
“This is a powerful affirmation of the role independent journalism plays in advancing democracy and countering disinformation,” said Tom Yazdgerdi, the union’s president.
Critics have accused the administration of trying to turn public broadcasting into a propaganda tool, with Kari Lake, a Trump political ally and former TV anchor, recently appointed as a special adviser to the agency.
Government lawyers defended the administration’s actions, saying the moves were part of a temporary compliance measure, but Lamberth found this argument unconvincing.
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