Courts and Separation of Powers

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth has ordered the Voice of America to be fully restored after the Trump administration spent the past year putting hundreds of employees on paid leave and slashing most of its 49 language services, a move he found exceeded the authority of US Agency for Global Media chief Kari Lake. Lamberth’s March 7 ruling and this week’s follow‑up order direct that sidelined staff be returned to work and VOA’s congressionally mandated mission as an objective, independent news outlet be revived, but the administration has already filed notice of appeal and signaled it will resist. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly framed the cutbacks as an efficiency push to eliminate "waste, fraud and abuse" at VOA and said the judge’s decision "will not be the final say," underscoring a direct clash between the judiciary and the executive over control of U.S. government–funded media. VOA director Michael Abramowitz says bipartisan lawmakers have preserved funding and that it is "time for all parties" to rebuild, while staff like White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara warn that repairing both physical infrastructure and newsroom morale after what they describe as a traumatic year will be difficult. The administration has also moved to install Newsmax executive and former Fox News staffer Christopher Wallace as VOA’s deputy director—without Abramowitz’s prior knowledge—fueling concerns among press‑freedom advocates that the White House is seeking a more partisan editorial line despite laws requiring unbiased coverage.