All articles tagged with #usagm
A US federal judge ruled the shutdown of Voice of America last year illegal and ordered the Trump-era administration to reinstate hundreds of VOA journalists and restore broadcasting within a week, criticizing the mass layoffs led by USAGM head Kari Lake and noting questions about authority and the broadcaster's mandated language coverage.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate more than 1,000 Voice of America employees who had been on paid leave, reversing actions to dismantle the US Agency for Global Media and voiding Kari Lake’s leadership moves, with a deadline for reinstatement and a rebuke of previous withholding of agency action.
A federal judge ruled Kari Lake’s brief appointment and her actions as acting head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media unlawful, voiding her orders to lay off hundreds of VOA employees, cut spending, cancel a lease, and reduce broadcasting capabilities, though some changes already in motion cannot be fully undone.
A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully led the U.S. Agency for Global Media without Senate confirmation, voiding mass layoffs and other actions taken during her tenure, with the court citing the Appointments Clause and Vacancies Act; Lake says she will appeal, while VOA staff view the ruling as a step toward restoring operations and journalistic independence.
A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake’s tenure as acting CEO of the Voice of America violated federal law, voiding a broad set of staff cuts and shutdowns she oversaw; the court found she was not lawfully serving and thus unable to exercise CEO authority under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and the Appointments Clause, with the actions taken between July 31 and November 19, 2025, being void and a court-ordered pause on layoffs remaining in place as the case proceeds with Lake appealing.
A federal judge ruled Kari Lake lacked authority to serve as CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, voiding her actions—including hundreds of VOA layoffs—because she had not been Senate-confirmed; the effect on VOA operations is unclear, and Lake said she will appeal.
Federal judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake unlawfully ran the U.S. Agency for Global Media last year, voiding mass VOA layoffs and other actions, in a rebuke of her bid to lead the agency. The ruling cites violations of the appointments clause and the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, and VOA staff and press-freedom groups hailed it as a restoration of operations, though Lake said she will appeal and the impact on staff remains uncertain.
A federal judge ruled that Kari Lake was illegally empowered to serve as acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, voiding her four-month tenure and related actions—including a workforce reduction—because she lacked Senate confirmation and because delegations from the previous acting CEO bypassed the Senate's advice and consent role.
Lawmakers from both parties unveiled a bipartisan spending deal to fund USAGM at about $653 million, including Voice of America operations and capital improvements, rebuking President Trump’s push to defund and shut down the agency. The package would provide roughly $643 million for broadcasting plus $10 million for capital needs—more than Trump requested but less than recent years—and would also continue funding for grantees like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Open Technology Fund. The measure follows Trump’s dismantling order and related court actions, with final passage still required from both chambers.
A judge has temporarily paused cuts to the US Agency for Global Media, citing concerns that the reductions hinder the agency's ability to broadcast in regions like North Korea and parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and criticizing recent judicial practices. The ruling follows contentious remarks by a political figure criticizing the judge's rulings.
Over 500 employees at Voice of America and related US government-funded broadcasters are set to lose their jobs as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce federal bureaucracy and cut funding, despite legal challenges and court orders to preserve VOA's operations.
Over 500 employees at Voice of America and related US government-funded broadcasters are set to lose their jobs as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce federal bureaucracy and cut funding, despite legal challenges and court orders to halt such actions.
Kari Lake has laid off hundreds of VOA staff amid a legal dispute involving her plans to dismantle the network, with ongoing court proceedings and allegations of illegal actions and obfuscation of intentions.
Several Voice of America employees in Washington received temporary reprieves from termination notices amid ongoing chaos and legal disputes related to the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the U.S.-funded media outlet, with union involvement and legal challenges highlighting concerns over legality and process.
Kari Lake, following Trump's directives, has significantly downsized Voice of America, resulting in widespread layoffs and the reduction of its staff from about 1,400 to approximately 250, marking the end of a longstanding tradition of independent journalism and raising concerns about the impact on global information dissemination.