Kari Lake and USAGM

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake did not satisfy the statutory or constitutional requirements to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media and declared all of her actions as acting CEO from July 31 through November 19, 2025 null and void. The order voids more than 1,000 layoffs and contractor dismissals, the firing of Voice of America’s director, a deal to carry One America News Network content, withholding of funds from sister broadcasters, termination of a headquarters lease and broad broadcast cuts; plaintiffs including VOA journalists and Reporters Without Borders hailed the decision as a step toward restoring journalism while Lake called Lamberth an “activist judge” and vowed to appeal, and courts noted some harms (such as the canceled lease) may be irreversible.