US federal appeals court halts order reinstating Voice of America workers
2-1 decision says April 22 ruling by US District Judge Royce Lamberth lacked jurisdiction to issue such order, which also sought to restore $15M in grants to affected networks
ISTANBUL
A US federal appeals court on Saturday blocked a lower court ruling that would have reinstated more than 1,000 Voice of America (VOA) employees placed on administrative leave by the Trump administration.
The April 22 ruling by US District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM), VOA’s parent organization, to return the employees to their posts.
The judge found that the dismantling of VOA and its sister networks — Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks — was likely unlawful.
However, the appeals court, in a 2-1 decision, said Lamberth lacked the jurisdiction to issue such an order, which also sought to restore $15 million in grants to the affected networks.
VOA has been effectively shut down since March, when the Trump administration issued an executive order dismantling USAGM. The agency has not resumed normal operations since.
Numerous reports on Friday indicated that VOA was preparing to resume broadcasts next week. USAGM did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.
Founded during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda, Voice of America is funded by Congress and broadcasts in 63 languages to audiences in more than 100 countries.
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