A U.S. Court Ordered Trump to Resume Broadcasting Voice of America 0 11

The U.S. administration must resume the operations of the international broadcasting agency "Voice of America" (VoA), ruled U.S. federal judge Royce Lambert on Tuesday, March 17. He ordered the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to provide a plan for resuming VoA broadcasts by the end of next week. USAGM allocates federal funding for the operation of international media that provide information to residents of countries where press freedom is absent or restricted, writes DW.

In his ruling, Lambert emphasized that the U.S. Congress established clear requirements for the tasks and funding of USAGM. According to these requirements, the agency's broadcasting services must provide objective and reliable coverage of events, covering "every significant region of the world."

Previously, Royce Lambert ruled the appointment of former television host Kari Lake as head of USAGM illegal. As a result of this ruling, mass layoffs at VoA conducted under Lake's leadership are considered invalid. By March 23, the agency is required to reinstate 1,042 employees of "Voice of America" who have been on paid administrative leave since the end of 2025.

A Year Ago, Lambert Ordered the Restoration of VoA Funding

In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump, who has long been critical of media outlets publishing critical materials about him and his administration, ordered radical cuts at USAGM. The White House accused "Voice of America" of spreading "radical propaganda" and stated that taxpayers "will no longer pay for this."

Just a month later, federal judge Royce Lambert ordered the Trump administration to restore the operations of "Voice of America" and resume its funding, deeming the station's closure by the president illegal and unconstitutional.