Voice of America | The NewsGuild

Coalition of Unions, Press Freedom Organizations, Editors and Journalists Win Major Victory As Judge Rules Kari Lake’s USAGM Appointment Illegal, Cancels Mass Firings at VOA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON – In a major victory for federal workers, this weekend, D.C. federal judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake had illegally served as Acting CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the agency overseeing Voice of America (VOA). The Court, granting a motion for summary judgment filed by labor unions, Press Freedom Organizations, editors and journalists, ruled that the actions taken by Lake since March of 2025 are legally void. That includes the August 29, 2025 reduction in force (RIF) eliminating the jobs of hundreds of Voice of America (VOA) employees. That RIF had previously been suspended by Judge Lamberth pending rulings by the Court, and thus all the employees targeted by the RIF have remained employed.

Radio Free Asia Guild members pose for a photo with Representative Hayley Stevens on Capitol Hill while advocating for continued funding of the news service.

Radio Free Asia members urge Congress to work with President Trump to restore funding and protect press freedom abroad

Guild members at Radio Free Asia advocated on Capitol Hill for Congress to work with President Trump to fully restore Radio Free Asia (RFA), which was effectively shut down earlier this year following sweeping cuts to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The closure has left dozens of journalists without jobs and has silenced a critical voice for press freedom abroad.

DC Circuit Court overturns stay, orders restoration of funding to Radio Free Asia

Late last night, the full bench of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit lifted a stay that had blocked a preliminary injunction ordering the U.S. Agency for Global Media to distribute Congressionally mandated funds to grantees including Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe and others.

Victory for Press Freedom and Workers: Court Grants Preliminary Injunction to Protect the U.S. Agency for Global Media

April 22, 2025

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a preliminary injunction in Widakuswara v. Lake, affirming the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) was unlawfully shuttered by the administration, Acting Director Victor Morales and Special Adviser Kari Lake. The decision enshrines that USAGM must fulfill its legally required functions and protects the editorial independence of Voice of America (VOA) journalists and other federal media professionals within the agency and newsrooms that receive grants from the agency, such as Radio Free Asia and others.

VIDEO: Voice of America Journalists Hold Press Conference on Trump’s Attacks on Free Press

March 23, 2025 – Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, The NewsGuild-CWA, & AFSCME held a press conference outside of the Southern District Court of New York, where a joint lawsuit was filed Friday seeking a reversal of Trump’s order to slash funding.