A federal appeals court has halted the plan to reinstate over 1,000 employees of Voice of America (VoA), a taxpayer-funded news service for overseas audiences. This ruling comes after a continuous pattern of fierce litigation. These disputes were spawned by an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump on March 14 that, among other things, sought to eliminate a number of agencies, including the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM).
Voice of America, a prominent federal entity, was effectively shut down following Trump’s order, which aimed to reduce the agency’s reach and influence. The court’s latest ruling underscores the complexities surrounding employment matters within federal agencies, especially in light of the executive branch’s authority.
In late April, US District Judge Royce Lamberth issued a preliminary injunction allowing Voice of America to go back on the air. He found Trump’s executive order to be arbitrary and capricious, exceeding presidential authority. This month’s DC Circuit Court panel ruling showed that the lower court itself may have acted beyond its authority in ordering employment reinstatement. This ruling sets significant legal precedent for future cases.
It was the broadness of their request, for the court concluded that it has to defer to the executive branch for any employment issues connected to Voice of America. Judges Neomi Rao and Gregory Katsas wrote separately to suggest that the lower court likely did not have jurisdiction to order VoA employees reinstated. They made it clear that jurisdiction here is key.
Judge Nina Pillard emphasized the implications of the funding freeze, stating that it amounted to “silencing Voice of America for the foreseeable future.” This means that the freeze on congressionally-approved funds for VoA and other networks will continue. That ban will remain in effect as the case goes through the legal process.
The federal appeals court largely upheld Lamberth’s preceding ruling last week. This would allow VoA to return to broadcasting at least during the appeals process. In the end it stymied what appears to have been plans for employees to return to their posts.
These recent changes have put more than 1,000 VoA employees in limbo. In the meantime, they are left to twiddle their thumbs while the litigation plays out. The saga emphasizes the broader struggle over federal power and agency independence on domestic policy, as well as international broadcasting.