U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Return of VOA Staff, Casting Doubt on Broadcast Resumption
A U.S. appellate court on Saturday ruled against reinstating Voice of America (VOA) employees, raising uncertainty about the news outlet’s return to operations after former President Donald Trump shut it down in March.
VOA, a U.S. government-funded international broadcaster, has remained inactive since Trump ordered the dissolution of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VOA, Radio Free Asia, and other federally funded news services.
Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, both appointed by Trump, stated in their opinion that the lower court “likely lacked subject-matter jurisdiction over USAGM’s personnel actions.” Judge Cornelia Pillard, appointed by President Barack Obama, dissented.
The ruling has disrupted plans for VOA staff to return to work. Prior to the decision, there were signs of a possible restart. Chief National Correspondent Steve Herman posted on X that a Justice Department lawyer had informed their legal team of a planned “phased return” of staff and programming.
Two VOA employees confirmed that previously frozen work email accounts had been reactivated, though no formal notice to return had been received.
Kari Lake, a Trump appointee and former broadcaster now overseeing USAGM, praised the ruling on X, calling it a “BIG WIN” and a “huge victory for President Trump and Article II.”
Trump has long criticized VOA for not promoting his administration’s messaging, challenging its editorial independence. In April, several former VOA directors—appointed by both Republican and Democratic administrations—urged Congress to act, after a federal judge ruled that Trump’s shutdown violated legal statutes.
The decision comes just ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, which honors the role of a free press and spotlights ongoing challenges facing journalists worldwide.
