Federal Judge Royce Lamberth has ruled against President Trump’s attempt to close Voice of America, ordering the restoration of the international broadcaster that the administration had accused of harboring “leftist bias.”
Key Takeaways
- Judge Royce Lamberth ruled President Trump’s shutdown of Voice of America was illegal and ordered its restoration to pre-Trump operational levels
- The court also mandated the restoration of Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks, but denied requests for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- Trump appointee Kari Lake had called VOA “unsalvageable” and accused it of “waste, fraud and abuse” without providing evidence
- The ruling affirms congressional limits on presidential authority over the U.S. Agency for Global Media established in 2020
- Voice of America has operated continuously since 1942 until Trump’s March 15 executive order attempted to dismantle its parent organization
Judge Blocks Presidential Authority Over International Broadcaster
A federal judge has delivered a significant blow to President Trump’s efforts to shutter Voice of America (VOA), ruling that his administration acted illegally in halting operations of the long-standing international broadcaster. Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the restoration of VOA’s capacity to pre-Trump levels after what court documents described as “hasty” and “indiscriminate” funding cuts and layoffs that effectively shut down the news service. The decision represents a clear limitation on presidential authority over the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which Congress established as independent with specific constraints on executive power in 2020.
The ruling also extends to two affiliate broadcasters, mandating the restoration of Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks’ capacities to their previous operational levels. However, Judge Lamberth denied similar requests for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund, creating a partial victory for the administration. The case stems from President Trump’s March 15 executive order that sought to dismantle VOA’s parent organization, bringing an unprecedented halt to operations that had run continuously since 1942.
Voice of America is authorized by Congress, which appropriates funding every year to run its operations. Trump's job, under the Constitution, is to ensure that those laws be faithfully executed. Of course he couldn't kill VOA. https://t.co/ypo1C9SX2n
— James Surowiecki (@JamesSurowiecki) April 22, 2025
Trump Administration’s Claims of Media Bias
President Trump has consistently criticized Voice of America, accusing the broadcaster of being “the voice of radical America” with an agenda against his administration. Trump officials characterized VOA as having a “leftist bias” rather than providing what they considered “pro-American” content, allegations that contrasted with VOA’s stated mission. The administration’s attempts to reshape the international broadcaster involved placing Kari Lake, a prominent Trump ally, in charge of the Agency for Global Media that oversees VOA and its sister networks.
Lake had publicly declared VOA “unsalvageable” and accused it of “waste, fraud and abuse” though court documents noted she provided no specific evidence to support these claims. The administration’s approach involved using federal funds to systematically dismantle programs it viewed unfavorably while attempting to enforce ideological compliance within the agency. Judge Lamberth’s ruling closed loopholes in previous court decisions that had allowed the Trump administration to keep VOA’s newsroom effectively shuttered despite earlier judicial interventions.
Historical Mission and Ongoing Legal Battles
Voice of America was founded during World War II specifically to counter Nazi propaganda, and later projected American perspectives during the Cold War. Its current mission focuses on delivering factual news to regions where press freedom is limited. A labor union representing VOA workers praised the ruling as affirming independent journalism’s essential role in democratic governance. The Trump administration’s targeting of VOA fits within a broader pattern of confronting post-war institutions like USAID, which Trump ally Elon Musk recently criticized as a “viper’s nest of radical left Marxists.”
Judge Lamberth is currently handling multiple court challenges to Trump’s executive order from VOA journalists and press freedom organizations. The legal battles highlight the tension between presidential authority and congressional intent regarding these international broadcasting services. The ruling demonstrates the judiciary’s willingness to enforce the legislative guardrails established in 2020 that were specifically designed to protect VOA’s editorial independence from executive branch interference.
Sources:
- US judge blocks Trump’s effort to shutter international news service – DNyuz
- Judge Blocks Trump Effort to Dismantle Voice of America – The New York Times
