Voice of America is set to resume fuller operations after a federal judge ruled that efforts to significantly scale back the government-funded international broadcaster were unlawful, ordering more than 1,000 sidelined employees to return to their jobs.
The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, directs the reinstatement of workers who had been placed on administrative leave and calls for the restoration of international broadcasting services. Employees are expected to return to work by March 23.
The ruling marks a major setback for recent efforts to overhaul the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America. Those changes, implemented beginning in early 2025, led to widespread layoffs and reductions that eliminated roughly 85 percent of the agency’s workforce. As a result, VOA’s global operations were sharply curtailed, shrinking from broadcasts in nearly 50 languages to a limited number of services.
Lamberth found that actions taken to dismantle large portions of the organization violated federal administrative law and statutory requirements set by Congress. The decision also criticized leadership moves within the agency, including the authority under which recent restructuring efforts were carried out.
In addition to restoring staff, the court ordered a resumption of VOA’s international broadcasting mission, which has long been used by the United States to promote press freedom and provide news coverage to global audiences.
The case was brought by several VOA journalists and employees who challenged the sweeping cuts. They indicated that rebuilding the organization will take time after months of reduced operations and disruption.
While the ruling reinstates full-time employees, it does not extend to hundreds of contractors whose positions were also eliminated. The court noted that those cases must be pursued through a separate legal process.
Source: Politico