A recent ruling from the US District Court for the District of Columbia has mandated the full restoration of operations at Voice of America (VOA) and its supervising body, the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The court’s decision came in response to the Trump administration’s efforts to significantly curtail the agency’s broadcasting activities—a move deemed unlawful under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The ruling was penned by Senior Judge Royce Lamberth, who highlighted the administration’s failure to adhere to the APA’s standards of reasoned decision-making when it ceased broadcasting operations and placed a substantial number of employees on paid administrative leave.
This decision is pivotal, as it underscores the administration’s non-compliance with federal mandates requiring continuous international broadcasting operations. Judge Lamberth noted that Congress’s ongoing financial support for VOA operations indicated a legislative intent that could not be overridden unilaterally by the executive branch. Thus, the court found that the employment leave placements and broadcasting halts were arbitrary and legally untenable. This order effectively nullifies USAGM’s previous memorandum that minimized operations contrary to Congress’s directives.
The court also addressed concerns over personal service contractors but ruled in the government’s favor, stating that these issues should be resolved in the Court of Federal Claims, as these involved contract disputes that fell under the jurisdiction of the Tucker Act. This distinction clarifies the boundaries of administrative and legal remedies available to federal contractors, a significant consideration for agencies managing contractual relationships.
VOA, with a legacy rooted in counter-propaganda during World War II, found its operations severely restricted in March 2025 following an executive order from President Trump. This directive called for reducing operational functions to legally minimal levels, leading USAGM to halt nearly all broadcasting and place over 1,000 employees on administrative leave, as reported, here. Legal actions challenging this near shutdown swiftly ensued, with significant court holdings already occurring earlier through a preliminary injunction. However, this recent ruling marks a comprehensive evaluation of the APA claims, solidifying VOA’s operational continuation under congressional guidance.
The judicial intervention emphasizes the judiciary’s role in interpreting administrative actions within the frameworks set by Congress. As USAGM prepares to comply with the court’s directives, this case serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of separation of powers and the checks and balances system inherent in US governance.