Judge Blocks Trump Admin’s Efforts to Dismantle VOA

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the Trump administration to restore the Voice of America and affiliated news services and blocked attempts to shutter the government-funded outlet, according to reports.

U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Royce Lamberth ordered VOA’s parent agency, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), to restore funding and rehire staff that had been laid off at VOA as well as Radio Free Asia and the Middle Broadcasting Networks.

Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, wrote that the administration is likely in direct violation of numerous federal laws.”