US Judge Orders VOA to Resume Broadcasting and Reinstates Staff

On March 23, 2025, US District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the Voice of America (VOA) to resume its international broadcasting operations and reinstated around 1,000 employees. This ruling directly counters the efforts of the US government to carry out significant layoffs as part of an executive order issued in March 2025, which mandated a reduction in the agency's broadcasting capabilities.

The judge's decision also reinforces an earlier temporary restraining order granted in September 2025 that halted the dismissals announced in August 2025. The VOA, established in 1942 during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, has traditionally served as a key instrument of US public diplomacy.

The agency operates under the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which has faced criticism from former President Donald Trump, who appointed Kari Lake to lead the agency at the start of his second term.