Judge Reverses Mass Layoffs at Voice of America in Scathing Ruling
In a major legal setback for the Trump administration, a federal judge has ordered the immediate reinstatement of over 500 Voice of America (VOA) journalists and support staff who were abruptly laid off in August 2025 as part of a controversial effort to dismantle the U.S. government’s flagship international broadcaster .
Why Were VOA Staff Fired?
The mass layoffs—targeting 532 full-time employees, including nearly all reporters, editors, and producers—were orchestrated by Kari Lake, the Trump-appointed head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The move followed President Trump’s executive order in March 2025 to effectively shut down VOA, which once reached 360 million people weekly in 49 languages.
But Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled the firings violated his April 2025 injunction requiring VOA to maintain full news operations as mandated by Congress.
Key Points from the Court’s Decision
- VOA layoffs defied a standing court order to restore full broadcasting capacity.
- Only 3 radio technicians remained on staff—insufficient to meet congressional mandates.
- Judge Lamberth accused Trump officials of “obfuscation” and “disrespect” for the judiciary.
- The court rejected the administration’s attempt to cite a Supreme Court emergency ruling on Education Department layoffs as precedent.
- Contempt charges were narrowly avoided—but remain on the table.
VOA’s Dramatic Decline Under Trump
| Metric | Pre-March 2025 | Post-Layoffs (Aug 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Languages Broadcast | 49 | 4 (Chinese, Persian, Dari, Pashto) |
| Daily Broadcast Hours | 24/7 global coverage | ~1 hour per day |
| Global Audience | 360+ million weekly | Severely reduced |
| Full-Time Staff | ~600+ | 3 (radio technicians only) |
What Happens Next?
With the court ordering full reinstatement, VOA is expected to begin rehiring immediately. The three plaintiffs—Kate Neeper, Jessica Jerreat, and Patsy Widakuswara—called the ruling a “victory for press freedom and congressional intent.”
Founded in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA has long served as a beacon of independent journalism in authoritarian states like China, Russia, and Iran.
[INTERNAL_LINK:Voice of America] | [INTERNAL_LINK:Press Freedom in the U.S.]
