**Federal Judge Orders Voice of America to Resume Full Operations Amid Uncertainty**
In a strongly worded decision this week, a federal judge ordered that Voice of America (VOA)—an international broadcaster with the mission to provide news to countries around the world—come roaring back to life after being largely shut down for the last year by the Trump administration. Whether or not that actually happens remains uncertain.
The government filed notice Thursday to appeal U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth’s order issued two days earlier, which directed hundreds of VOA employees who have been on paid leave for the last year to return to work.
Judge Lamberth ruled on March 7 that Kari Lake, President Trump’s choice to oversee the bureaucratic parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), did not have the authority to reduce VOA to a skeleton crew. Established during World War II, Voice of America beamed reports to many countries lacking a tradition of a free press.
Before Trump took office again last year, VOA operated in 49 different languages and was heard by an estimated 362 million people worldwide. However, Trump’s team contended that government-run news sources—not just VOA but also outlets like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—were examples of bloated government, and sought news reporting more favorable to the current administration.
Currently operating with a greatly reduced staff, VOA broadcasts mainly to Iran, Afghanistan, China, North Korea, and countries with large Kurdish populations.
In his decision, Judge Lamberth stated that Lake had “repeatedly thumbed her nose” at laws mandating VOA’s operation.
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### Calls to Rebuild and Strengthen VOA
VOA Director Michael Abramowitz expressed optimism about the broadcaster’s future. He noted that legislators from both parties recognize the need for a strong operation and have allocated sufficient funding to get the job done.
“It is time for all parties to come together and work to rebuild and strengthen the agency,” Abramowitz said.
However, expectations for a swift recovery should be tempered. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the administration’s position, saying, “President Trump was elected to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across the administration, including the Voice of America, and efforts to improve efficiency at USAGM have been a tremendous success. This will not be the final say on the matter.”
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### Challenges Ahead for VOA Staff
Patsy Widakuswara, VOA’s White House bureau chief and a plaintiff in the lawsuit to restore the agency, commented on the difficulties ahead.
“Restoring the physical infrastructure is going to take a lot of money and some time, but it can be done. What is more difficult is recovering from the trauma that our newsroom has gone through,” she said.
David Ensor, former VOA director from 2010 to 2014, questioned whether the administration wants a real news organization or merely a mouthpiece.
“We don’t know — maybe no one does at the moment — what the future holds,” Ensor said.
The administration’s efforts over the past year to bolster friendly outlets and suppress coverage displeasing to Trump offer some clues, despite congressional mandates requiring VOA to remain an objective and unbiased news source.
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### New Leadership and Staffing Concerns
This week, it was announced that Christopher Wallace, a Newsmax executive with 15 years at Fox News Channel, will become the new deputy director at VOA. Michael Abramowitz stated he was unaware of this appointment until it was publicly announced. Widakuswara declined to comment on what Wallace’s appointment might mean, saying, “I’m not going to pass judgment before seeing his work.”
While Judge Lamberth ordered more than a thousand employees on leave to be reinstated, it remains unclear how many have moved on to other jobs or retired over the past year. Additionally, the judge said he lacked authority to reinstate hundreds of independent contractors who were terminated.
One former employee who left VOA is Steve Herman, previously the White House bureau chief and national correspondent, and now executive director of the Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation at the University of Mississippi. Despite the court decisions, Herman expressed skepticism about the future.
“I’m a bit of a pessimist,” Herman said. “I think it’s going to be very difficult.”
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### Political Influence and Future Outlook
The Trump administration continues to resist defeat. Recently, the White House nominated Sarah Rogers, undersecretary of State for public diplomacy, to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media, potentially increasing administrative control—though her nomination requires Senate approval.
“Is Marco Rubio’s State Department going to allow objective journalism in 49 languages?” Herman questioned. “I don’t think so. I would want that to happen, but that’s a fairy tale.”
In the February budget bill, Congress allocated $200 million for VOA operations. While this represents roughly a 25% cut from the agency’s previous budget, it sends a bipartisan message of support, according to Kate Neeper, VOA’s director of strategy and performance evaluation.
Neeper, who also joined Widakuswara as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, has helped colleagues address concerns including immigration issues over the past year.
“There is a lot of enthusiasm for going back to work,” she said. “People are eager to show up on Monday.”
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### The Enduring Importance of Voice of America
David Ensor highlighted the hunger for VOA’s information, particularly in Iran, during his tenure as director. Surveys showed that between a quarter and a third of Iranian households tuned in to VOA weekly, primarily via satellite television. While authorities occasionally cracked down and confiscated satellite dishes, Iranians could usually find replacements quickly.
“I believe in Voice of America as a news organization and as a voice of America,” Ensor said. “It was important, and it can be again.”
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As VOA stands at a crossroads after a turbulent year, the path forward remains uncertain. The commitment of its employees and bipartisan congressional support offer hope that the broadcaster can reclaim its historic mission of delivering reliable news to audiences worldwide.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-03-21/after-judge-rules-voice-of-america-be-revived-whats-next