❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of 1,042 employees at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) after they were placed on paid administrative leave last year under the Trump administration.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth, Kari Lake, and Voice of America (VOA) employees.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The rulings were issued late Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The plaintiffs challenge the defendants’ actions in March 2025 to dramatically downsize the United States Agency for Global Media and its subsidiary, Voice of America, as violating Sections 706(1) and (2) of the APA. After clearing a series of threshold hurdles, the Court ultimately concludes that the plaintiffs prevail on all aspects of their APA claims except for certain contractors’ requests for reinstatement.” — Judge Lamberth
🎯IMPACT: The decision reinstates employees, voids Kari Lake’s actions as acting CEO, and restores most USAGM and subagency operations and broadcasts.
U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth—a Ronald Reagan appointee—issued two rulings late Tuesday mandating the reinstatement of 1,042 employees at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), the parent agency that oversees Voice of America (VOA), the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting Networks, and the Open Technology Fund. The employees were placed on paid administrative leave last year under the Trump administration. The rulings also ordered VOA to resume its news reporting and programming, which had been largely dormant since March 2025.
“Before the Court are cross-motions for partial summary judgment on the Administrative Procedure Act claims raised by the plaintiffs in the above-captioned cases. The plaintiffs challenge the defendants’ actions in March 2025 to dramatically downsize the United States Agency for Global Media and its subsidiary, Voice of America, as violating Sections 706(1) and (2) of the APA,” Judge Lamberth wrote, adding, “After clearing a series of threshold hurdles, the Court ultimately concludes that the plaintiffs prevail on all aspects of their APA claims except for certain contractors’ requests for reinstatement.”
Notably, Lamberth’s accompanying order vacates a Statutory Minimum Memorandum signed by USAGM officials last March that reduced the agency’s operating staff to just 68, and placed over 1,000 other employees on administrative leave. In addition, the order lifts the cessation of USAGM and its subagencies’ broadcasts.
The rulings come nearly a year after President Donald J. Trump sought to reduce the federally funded international broadcast agency to its legal minimum. Lamberth ruled that Kari Lake, Trump’s pick to manage VOA, and other defendants had “unlawfully withheld mandatory agency action.”
Earlier this month, Judge Lamberth ruled that Lake was ineligible to serve as USAGM’s acting CEO because she was appointed without Senate confirmation. Lake is currently appealing that ruling.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.