A federal court has determined that Kari Lake, President Donald Trump’s selection to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media, overstepped her legal bounds when she dramatically scaled back Voice of America operations. U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth issued the Saturday ruling, though its immediate impact on VOA’s current operations remains unclear.
Lake dismissed Judge Lamberth’s decision as “bogus” and announced plans to challenge the ruling through the appeals process.
The internationally-focused news organization, which has broadcast to global audiences since its World War II origins, currently functions with minimal personnel covering only select languages following Lake’s decision to end employment contracts and eliminate most staff positions.
While Trump selected Lake to oversee the agency responsible for Voice of America and similar services including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, she has not secured Senate approval for the position. Judge Lamberth determined that existing laws preventing unauthorized government appointments prohibited her from exercising such authority.
“Only the Appointments Clause or the Vacancies Act’s exclusive structure may authorize service as a principal officer, and Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution,” Lamberth wrote.
The court decision addressed legal action brought by Voice of America White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara along with colleagues Kate Neeper and Jessica Jerreat. These journalists were among those terminated by Lake and have challenged her restructuring efforts.
“We feel vindicated and deeply grateful,” the journalists said in a statement. They described the ruling against Lake as “a powerful step toward undoing the damage she has inflicted on this American institution that we love.” The reporters noted they continue working to understand how the decision affects other colleagues whose professional futures remain uncertain.
Voice of America supporters describe the service as representing America’s “soft power” by delivering objective news reporting to nations where government entities restrict information access. Lake has argued that government-funded news organizations waste resources and should instead advance the current administration’s positions.
Reporters Without Borders stated that Lamberth’s ruling confirmed their belief that the administration unlawfully dismantled VOA operations. However, additional steps are needed to restore VOA journalists to their positions, according to Clayton Weimers, who leads the organization’s North American division.
“This case is proof that fighting for press freedom matters,” Weimers said.
In a statement shared on X, Lake expressed strong opposition to the court’s determination.
“The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste, and restore accountability to government,” she said. “An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM. Judge Lamberth has a pattern of activist rulings — and this case is no different.”
