A U. S. appeals court has blocked a lower court ruling that would have returned 1,000 Voice of America (VOA) employees to work. The ruling, made by a 2-1 decision in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, stated that the lower court lacked jurisdiction in this matter. This follows a previous order from U. S. District Judge Royce Lamberth that sought to allow these employees back and restore $15 million in grants to related organizations.
The U. S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) had placed these employees on leave as part of downsizing efforts under the Trump administration, which involved shutting down broadcasts in March. The two judges, Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas, supported the government's position, stating that while the employees might have individual claims, they should pursue these through other means. They emphasized the need to respect the legal boundaries set by Congress regarding the operation of USAGM.
Dissent from Judge Cornelia Pillard highlighted concerns about maintaining the current situation until the case could be fully considered, suggesting the stay would silence VOA and restrict the other organizations' ability to challenge this situation. Trump advisor Kari Lake welcomed the appeals court's decision, framing it as a victory for President Trump and his administration's approach to media.
Meanwhile, Judge Lamberth had previously highlighted the importance of VOA and other USAGM agencies as reliable news sources and criticized the government's abrupt actions for failing to consider the impact on employees and the public. The Trump administration has been critical of government-funded media, labeling VOA as a source of "radical propaganda. " Employees of VOA filed a lawsuit against the administration, claiming that it violated the First Amendment and overstepped its authority, arguing that the actions constituted a suppression of journalism.
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