A US appeals court overturned a lower court order that directed the reinstatement of over 1,000 Voice of America (VOA) employees and the restoration of $15 million in grants. The appeals court ruled that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to issue such an order.
The Trump administration, under the direction of advisor Kari Lake, had placed these employees on leave and terminated 600 contractors after shutting down VOA broadcasts in March 2025. This action was part of a broader effort to downsize the federal government and address concerns about alleged partisan bias and foreign influence within the agency.
The appeals court judges argued that while the employees might have individual claims, these needed to be pursued through other channels. They emphasized the importance of respecting jurisdictional boundaries. Conversely, the dissenting judge argued that the stay prevented the adjudication of the case on its merits and effectively silenced VOA.
Lake celebrated the ruling as a victory for President Trump and Article II. The lower court judge, who had previously described VOA as a consistently reliable and authoritative news source, had argued that the government's actions were arbitrary and harmful. The VOA employees' lawsuit argued that the administration violated the First Amendment and exceeded its authority.