Federal Judge Orders Voice of America Back on the Air

A federal court decision is putting more than 1,000 journalists back to work at Voice of America, restoring a vital news source for millions worldwide. U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration must restore the government-run news agency's operations within a week.

Voice of America had been effectively shut down, with 1,042 of its 1,147 employees placed on administrative leave following a presidential executive order. The news service had been limping along with just a skeleton staff for the past year.

Judge Lamberth found no valid justification for the mass shelving of employees. His ruling requires the U.S. Agency for Global Media to present a plan for getting Voice of America fully operational again.

Patsy Widakuswara, Voice of America's White House bureau chief and a plaintiff in the restoration lawsuit, expressed deep gratitude for the decision. She and her colleagues are eager to return to their congressional mandate and rebuild trust with their global audience.

The Ripple Effect

Voice of America has been broadcasting independent journalism since World War II, often reaching people in countries without a free press. Before the shutdown, the service operated in 49 languages and reached 362 million people across the globe.

The restoration means communities in some of the world's most media-restricted regions will again have access to independent news coverage. For many international audiences, Voice of America serves as a critical window into world events and American perspectives.

The road ahead won't be easy, Widakuswara acknowledged. Restoring operations and rebuilding the agency's reputation after a year of disruption will take significant work.

But hundreds of dedicated journalists are ready to return to their mission of producing journalism for a global audience that has been without their service for too long.