Federal Judge Halts Shutdown of Voice of America

For now, VOA employees have secured a court order that would prevent the Trump administration from closing its outlets.

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from temporarily dismantling the Voice of America (VOA). It is a government-funded international news service that had 1,200 reporters and employees placed on paid leave earlier this month.

J. Paul Oetken, a judge for the Southern District of New York, issued a temporary restraining order in favour of VOA employees and their unions on Friday. The order will prevent the US Global Media Agency (USAGM) overseeing the VOA from shutting down broadcast networks and associated radio programs.

VOA employees filed a lawsuit on March 21 against USAGM, its acting director Victor Morales and special advisor Kalilake. The complaint accused him of not fulfilling his legally mandated duties, violating both freedom of the press and Powers’ separation, and violating both the “chainsaw.”

In his ruling, Oetken said there was a high chance that the VOA would succeed in its claim, noting that USAGM’s actions seemed unconstitutional. He said the lake does not have legal authority to withhold funds allocated to Congress or to terminate USAGM staff, programming or contracts.

“By withholding legally appropriate funds to fully control USAGM, VOA and its affiliates, executives are depriving Congress of the power of the wallet and its legislative advantage,” he wrote.

The judge did not require the VOA to resume broadcasting, but made it clear that employees should not be terminated while the court decides whether the closure violates the Constitution or other federal administrative laws.

Friday’s order repeated a similar ruling by another district judge earlier in the week. This gave Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty a temporary restraining order and blocked the funding freeze. The Trump administration has since said in court applications that it has resumed funding for these outlets.

President Donald Trump and his supporters have been critical of the VOA for years, in favor of conservative American bias and American enemies.

In 2020, the White House sent an email accusing taxpayer money of “representing the authoritarian regime” of spending taxpayer money. Among other things, there was a problem with a VOA social media post featuring a video of a light show celebrating the end of the lockdown of Uhan, the Chinese megapolis, where the COVID-19 virus first appeared. Similarly, characterising China’s efforts to control occurrence as a “model” of other countries.

“VoA talks frequently for the American enemy, not for citizens,” the White House said. “Journalists need to report the facts, but VoA instead amplified Beijing’s promotion.”

VOA began broadcasting in 1942 on German occupied territory. In the next few decades, it became a staple of propaganda wars against the Soviet Union and other communist regimes. Over time, it evolved into a global news organization and now operates in over 40 languages.

Elon Musk, a tech billionaire and Trump’s top adviser to reduce federal spending and workforce, reflects the call to shut down VOA and its sister networks, claiming they are out of their purpose.

“Yes, we’re shutting down. Europe is free now (counting suffocating bureaucracy). No one will listen to them anymore,” he writes to X.